While whistleblower Edward Snowden continues to make world headlines, the cyber security issue will undoubtedly become a hot topic during the upcoming 5th round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) taking place on July 10-11.

The first China-U.S. cyber security working group meeting was held on July 8 in Washington, ahead of the China-U.S. S&ED.

Both sides held candid and in-depth exchanges on the improvement of the cyber working group mechanism, cyber ties between the two countries, international cyberspace regulations and a bilateral dialogue on and cooperation in cyber security, Xinhua News Agency reported.

China and the U.S. reportedly hope to create the mechanism under the principals of mutual respect and equal dialogue, so that the working group can play a positive role in enhancing mutual trust, reducing differences and expanding cooperation in cyber security.

After the meeting, the U.S. State Department spokesman said the U.S. had held constructive discussions with the attending Chinese officials.

Both sides agreed to hold another meeting within the year.

The two countries set up the cyber security working group within the framework of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue in April.

Ahead of this 5th S&ED, China's Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai emphasized the topic of Edward Snowden, the former U. S. National Security Agency contractor who revealed the U.S. had carried out massive cyber surveillance and intelligence operations in countries including China. China now hopes to get a clear-cut explanation from the U.S. side concerning the issue.

Blaming each other cannot resolve the problem, Cui said. The two sides need to up their communication. He also suggested establishing commonly-accepted cyber security rules and regulations through a multinational institution such as the United Nations.

"Within the S&ED framework, any discussion on cyber security will undoubtedly involve the Snowden issue. We have adequate reasons to ask the U.S. side to explain Snowden's statement," Li Haitong, a professor from the Institute of International Relations at China Foreign Affairs University, commented.

Li said cyber security is a common issue faced by both China and the U.S. The establishment of the cyber security working group itself indicates that both sides are willing to hold talks and cooperate on the issue.

Shi Yinhong, an expert on U.S. studies at Renmin University, said Snowden offers China and the U.S. a chance to hold closed-door consultations on cyber issues.

Shi said he had noticed that ever since the global media began to report on Snowden leaking U.S. surveillance programs in June, U.S. officials have not openly criticized China over any cyber attacks

The two countries should try to reach agreements on basic cyber rules, said Shi. "But China needn't have to deliberately play the 'Snowden card' during the S&ED."

"Cyber security is a rather fresh topic," said Qu Xing, president of the China Institute of International Studies. "Cyber security rules cannot be established over one dialogue. After the first meeting, the two sides need more detailed and technical communication and consultation and put forward standards to guide cyber security issues. This will be a very complicated process."