When Chinese president Xi Jinping arrives in Washington, DC next week, he'll get the usual full state visit treatment from President Barack Obama. And at least for now, he won't get the welcoming gift the administration was considering up until this weekend: a pile of sanctions over Chinese hacking.

"We have been quite clear that the United States does not engage in the kind of cyber activity that yields a significant financial benefit for American companies, and that's precisely the kind of behavior and activity that we've raised concerns about with regard to China," said Josh Earnest, an administration spokesman press secretary, during a White House briefing yesterday. But for now, sanctions are not on the table after an unannounced set of meetings between Chinese and US officials worked out at least the framework for some sort of cooperation on cybersecurity issues.

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During a briefing with press yesterday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei suggested that any hacking of US companies originating from China was criminal activity. "China always firmly opposes and combats in accordance with law cyber attacks and cyber espionage launched in China," Hong said. "Anyone who performs such action within China shall be held accountable."

Hong also re-iterated China's public position on extending an offer of cooperation with the US to develop rules of conduct for the Internet. "Given the current rampancy of cyber crimes and common challenge faced by both countries in this area, it is in the interests of both China and the US and the international community to carry out bilateral dialogue and cooperation and jointly combat cyber crimes. We are also willing to work hand in hand with relevant parties including the US, discuss the establishment of relevant international rules and build a cyber space that is peaceful, secure, open and cooperative."

Some framework for that sort of conversation was beaten out late last week in unannounced meetings between a delegation from China. This was an apparent bid to head off the possible US announcement of sanctions against China for electronic espionage against American companies. The meetings, based on statements of White House officials and information from individuals close to the negotiations, resulted in a framework for an agreement between the two countries on cybersecurity and electronic espionage against US companies.

At a minimum, the meetings have at least delayed sanctions that could have been announced before Chinese president Xi Jinping arrives on September 25. They may have also headed off broader trade issues; sanctions may have moved forward the Chinese implementation of cyber-security trade rules that would have essentially banned import of most US technology products to China.

The Chinese delegation, which arrived in Washington on September 9, was led by Meng Jianzhu, Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and a senior member of China’s politburo. According to White House officials, Meng was acting as a “special envoy” for President Xi to discuss “cybersecurity and other issues in advance of President Xi's State Visit.” The delegation led by Meng held meetings with FBI Director James Comey and other officials at FBI headquarters, and Meng met with National Security Advisor Susan Rice at the White House. ”She had a frank and open exchange about cyber issues,” a White House spokesperson said in an official statement issued after that visit.

The delegation was hosted by Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, who also brokered meetings between Meng’s delegation and officials from the State Department, intelligence agencies, the Treasury Department, Department of Justice, and FBI.

The result, the Washington Post reported, was a “substantial agreement” on some cybersecurity issues. An unnamed administration official told the paper, “They came up with enough of a framework that the visit will proceed and this issue should not disrupt the visit. That was clearly [the Chinese] goal.”