CPPCC spokesman: Google should adapt itself to Chinese culture

Google should adapt itself to Chinese culture, said CPPCC spokesperson Zhao Qizheng during a press conference March 2. "China's Internet is open and China will continue efforts to create a satisfying environment for foreign investment and protect the legitimate interests of foreign businesses."

Zhao looked back at Google's history in China. In 2005, Google came to China to investigate China's Internet market and investment environment, and in particular, studied relevant laws word for word. "It vowed to abide by relevant Chinese laws when formally extending its presence in China in 2006."

"Now, they have complained about attacks from Chinese hackers and hinted that the Chinese Government stands behind the hackers. Their claim is groundless and irrational because Chinese laws have placed a strict ban on hacker attacks and stipulates penalties for such attacks."

He added that a foreign business has to go through an adaptive phase in China, and should adapt to China's economic environment and Chinese culture.

He said, "a noteworthy point in the operation environment for any IT industry is the existence of hackers. It is the same as having viruses such as the A/H1N1 within the living environment for common people, and we have no choice but to get accustomed to it."

In regards to the competition between Google and Baidu, he said a good enterprise needs rivals to run along with it, and he wants to see how they will compete with each other.

Zhao stressed that China's Internet is open and China will continue to create a sound investment environment for foreign investors and protect their legal rights. China welcomes investors from various countries including international Internet enterprises to operate businesses in China, and also hopes that foreign investors respect the interests, cultural traditions of the Chinese people as well as Chinese laws, and assume corresponding corporate social responsibilities.

"Many CPPCC members cannot live their daily lives without the Internet, and they are very interested in Internet-related topics," he added.