Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan arrive at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, September 22, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

US President Barack Obama said on Sept 16 during a meeting with business executives that the US is ready to act against China over hacking.

In Beijing, Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said ahead of Xi's departure that cybersecurity will be one of the main topics in the president's meeting with Obama.

China will firmly protect its own interests in cyberspace and is resolutely opposed to any statements or actions that harm its interests, he said.

Teng Jianqun, director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Beijing and Washington have shared goals on cybersecurity, while their disagreements lie in their different understanding, desire and focus on the issue.

"In China, with the Internet deeply integrating with almost every industry, it is easy to understand how much the government cares about it," Teng said.

"China has always highlighted cybersecurity in a general context, including at strategic level, but the US focuses more on the commercial field."

Su Ge, president of the institute, said that as a country with 700 million Internet users, "cybersecurity is of course a top concern for China".

"There have been too many reports made to the Chinese authorities of hacking from abroad. China and the US have huge room for cooperation in the protection of cybersecurity."