Cisco CEO confident China, Google spat will be resolved

A Chinese national flag sways in front of Google China's headquarters in Beijing in this January 14, 2010 file photo.

RIYADH (Reuters) - Cisco Systems' chief executive said on Monday he expected the spat between Google Inc. and China to be resolved, saying the issue was part of a "natural give and take."

Earlier this month, Google jolted investors and China by threatening to quit the Communist Party-run nation over censorship and hacking.

"I think that there will be natural give and take between technology and countries, a natural give and take between countries," John Chambers told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in the Saudi capital, when asked if was worried about possible repercussions on Cisco.

"I'm very much the optimist that the issues will be worked out regardless of differences. I have been doing business in China for 25 years, I have a lot of confidence in the Chinese leadership and I have a lot of confidence in the Internet, and I have a lot of confidence in the American leadership."

Google said it and other companies were targets of sophisticated cyber-spying from China that also went after Chinese dissidents.

Separately, Chambers said he saw the global economy on the mend this year although he declined to comment on Cisco's earnings outlook or revenue prospects.

(Reporting by Souhail Karam, editing by Will Waterman)