Bisnis.comJAKARTA – China and Canada have signed an agreement not to carry out cyberattacks between the two countries aimed at stealing trade secrets or other confidential business information.

The agreement was reached during formal discussions between Canadian national security and intelligence adviser Daniel Jean and senior Chinese Communist Party official Wang Yongqing.

The new agreement focuses on economic cyberespionage, which includes covert hacking and technology possession, but does not address government-sponsored cyberespionage for intelligence gathering purposes.

“Both parties agree not to commit or knowingly support the theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or other confidential business information, for the purpose of providing a competitive advantage to any enterprise or commercial sector,” the statement said. Canadian government in an official press release. statement, cited by Reuters, (6/26/2017).

A statement released last week by China's official Xinhua news agency about the meeting contained broadly similar language regarding cyberattacks.

Several countries, including the United States, have long accused Beijing of sponsoring hacking attacks against companies with the aim of acquiring foreign technology. China denies these accusations and also claims to be the victim of computer hacking.

In 2015, China and the United States finally got on the same page on industrial cyberespionage, after the Obama administration considered targeted sanctions against Chinese individuals and companies for cyberattacks on American commercial targets.

U.S. cybersecurity officials said breaches linked to China-based groups declined after the deal was signed.

China passed a new cybersecurity law this month aimed at strengthening critical infrastructure, although some global technology companies say the rules create a level playing field against foreign companies.

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