Cisco Systems Inc, the giant network equipment supplier, has denied accusations of conducting illegal monitoring activities in China, as well as participating in the US surveillance program that whistleblower Edward Snowden has revealed.

In a statement sent to China Daily on Tuesday, Cisco said, "PRISM is not a Cisco program and Cisco networks did not participate in the program."

Further, Cisco does not monitor communications of private citizens or government organizations in China or anywhere in the world, the statement added.