BEIJING, March 24 -- China on Monday asked the United States to explain spying activities it allegedly carried out on China and told it to stop such acts.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks at a regular press briefing when he was asked to comment on news reports that the U.S. National Security Agency spied on China's telecommunications giant Huawei, former leaders, foreign and commerce ministries and banks.

China is greatly concerned about the news reports, Hong said, adding that media organizations have recently disclosed a lot of eavesdropping, surveillance and stealing of secret information by the United States, targeting other countries, including China.

Hong said China demands that the U.S. explains itself and stop such acts.