China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi clarified China's stance on Internet management and emphasized Internet is open and active in China when meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a spokesman of China's Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the remarks in response to a question on whether Yang and Clinton discussed the Google case during their meeting on the sidelines of an international conference on Afghanistan in London.

"Yang stressed that Internet in China is open and active," said Ma.

Chinese people enjoyed adequate freedom of speech in line with the law and have access to various kinds of information, which is an important reason why Chinese people unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Ma said.

"Yang said promoting the development of the Internet is our consistent policy," said Ma.

Ma added that China has its own domestic situation and cultural tradition, and it accords with the world's common practice that China regulates the Internet according to its laws and policies.

"China advocates severely fighting against hacking through beefing up international cooperation, so as to protect Internet safety and citizens' privacy in accordance with the law," Ma said.

According to the Internet Society of China, the number of cyber attacks from abroad saw a year-on-year increase of 148 percent in 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2010)