Google says Beijing has renewed the license it needs to continue operating a website in China.

The renewal has been in doubt due to the tense relations between Google and Chinese authorities over censorship of Google search results.

An e-mailed statement from Google says the Chinese government has renewed the search giant's license and the company looks forward to continuing to provide web search and other services to users in China.

The statement by Google's top lawyer, David Drummond, also has been posted on Google's blog.

There was no immediate word from China's Information Ministry about a renewal.