Obama and Xi held a series of private meetings at the White House about a host of issues, including national security, wildlife trafficking and climate change before answering questions at a mid-day news conference in the Rose Garden.
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As for the possibility of sanctions, against individuals, businesses or state-run companies, he said: “We will apply those, and whatever other tools we have in our tool kit, to go after cybercriminals either retrospectively or prospectively”.
But despite what he described as “significant progress”, including the establishment of a high-level joint dialogue mechanism, Mr Obama said he would not rule out invoking sanctions if violations persisted.
Speaking at the news conference on Friday (local time), Mr Xi said he and Mr Obama agreed to step up prosecutions and co-operate on investigations of cybercrime, including creating a hotline between officials in the two countries. “We’re still teeing up options” for Obama and his national security team, a second USA official said. “And both governments will not be engaged in or knowingly support online theft of intellectual properties”.
Despite mounting evidence linking Chinese attackers with attacks against American companies and government networks, China has steadfastly denied any involvement.
“The joint announcement by President Obama and President Xi adds momentum to the drive for a comprehensive and ambitious climate agreement in Paris this December”.
There was also a sharp exchange of views over China’s bid to extend its sovereignty over the South China Sea by building bases on reclaimed islands in areas disputed by Washington’s southeast Asian allies. Obama faced criticism from some Republicans for honoring China with a state visit given the cyber concerns, as well as USA worries about Beijing’s human rights abuses and assertive posture in territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas.
“And I encouraged a resolution between claimants in this area”.
“Clearly, action by the two countries that now emit the greatest amounts of heat-trapping gases is critical, and this new agreement is a very welcome development”.
Xi reiterated China’s denial of any government role in the hacking of United States corporate secrets and said the best way to address the problem was through bilateral cooperation and not to “politicize this issue”.
Xi, for his part, said that while “democracy and human rights are the common pursuit of mankind…we must recognize that countries have different historical processes and realities”.
China is willing to join hands with the United States to improve their relationship and push it forward on the right track, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Friday.
It was evident from the comments of both leaders they had not reached an agreement on China’s reclamation of islands in the South China Sea, which Mr Xi defended during his own remarks, saying Beijing supported the “freedom of navigation according to worldwide law”.
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The world’s top two economic powers are also its biggest polluters, and campaigners hailed their joint commitment to reduce emissions as a key step towards a global climate pact before the end of the year.
