China's Information Technology Minister Li Yizhong has said Internet giant Google must obey Chinese law if it wants to continue to operate in the country.

"If Google still plans to continue its operations in China, it must abide by Chinese laws and respect the wills of Chinese Internet users," the China Daily quoted Li, as saying.

During a plenary session of the annual legislative meeting on Monday, Li declined to comment on whether the authorities were still in discussions with Google on Internet restrictions in China.

"On this matter, Google knows it best itself," the minister said.

On January 18, the defiant California-based Internet search engine revealed plans to cease operations in China, saying that it no longer wished to be under the pressure of the country's nternet restrictions. (ANI)