Microsoft chief Satya Nadella promises cooperation; expects fair probe in China

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella has promised full cooperation to Chinese authorities in their antitrust investigation into the company during a meeting with a top regulator in Beijing, the Chinese government said at the weekend, Reuters reported.

Microsoft is under investigation for violation of anti-monopoly laws by China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), which had already seized evidence from multiple Microsoft offices across China. It had also summoned high-level executives for questioning (See: Microsoft under anti-monopoly probe in China).

Nadella met SAIC chief Zhang Mao on Friday in what was said to be a conciliatory effort by SAIC, one of three antitrust agencies in China.

The SAIC website said Nadella told Zhang Microsoft would turn over information investigators required in a timely fashion, while the company continued to be confident the government probe would be fair and transparent.

Declining to comment on the government meeting, Microsoft said it was ''serious about complying with China's laws and committed to addressing SAIC's questions and concerns''.

The Microsoft chief was on a visited the Chinese capital as part of his first trip to Asia as chief executive.

According to commentators, the tone contrasted with way the Chinese investigators had at times carried out the probe, with officials conducting surprise inspections at several Microsoft offices and seizing material, Market Watch reported.