Opinion\Op-Ed Contributors

International strategy of cooperation on cyberspace

China Daily | Updated: 2017-03-02 07:46

3. Promoting Fair internet Governance

China believes that a multilateral, democratic and transparent global internet governance system should be built through equal participation and joint decision-making of the international community. Countries are entitled to participate in internet governance on an equal footing. It is important to ensure equitable distribution of basic resources of the internet and joint management of critical information infrastructure such as root servers. Relevant international processes should be open and inclusive with greater representations and voice of developing countries.

China calls for enhanced communication and cooperation among all stakeholders including governments, international organizations, internet companies, technological communities, nongovernmental institutions and citizens. Relevant efforts should reflect broad participation, sound management and democratic decision-making, with all stakeholders contributing in their share based on their capacity and governments taking the leading in internet governance particularly public policies and security.

4. Protecting Legitimate Rights and Interests of Citizens

China supports a free and open internet. It fully respects citizens' rights and fundamental freedoms in cyberspace and safeguards their rights to be informed, to participate, to express and to supervise while protecting individual privacy in cyberspace. Cyberspace, in the meantime, is not a place beyond the rule of law. Like the real world, freedom and order are both necessary in cyberspace. China pursues effective governance in cyberspace to promote free flow of information while ensuring national security and public interests.

5. Promoting Cooperation on Digital Economy

China is vigorously implementing the national strategies for cyber development, IT application and big data and the "internet Plus" action plan. It encourages the development of e-commerce, promotes integration of the digital and real economies and works to optimize the allocation of resources and boost total factor productivity, which will drive innovation, transform growth model and adjust economic structure.

China values fairness, openness and competition in the market. While pursuing its own development, China advocates cooperation and shared benefits and commits to promoting investment, trade and a stronger digital economy globally. It supports fair and open international trade, opposes trade barriers and trade protectionism and pursues an open and secure environment for the digital economy, to ensure the internet serves the economy and innovation. It calls for fair, reasonable and universal access to the internet, popularization of internet technology and diversity of internet language, and seeks enhanced cooperation and exchange with other countries and regions on cyber security and information technology, for the advancement and innovation of internet technology, equal sharing of digital dividends and sustainable development of the cyberspace.

China believes that security guarantees development and development enhances security. A healthy and strong digital economy would not be possible if the pursuit of absolute security is allowed to constrain momentum, openness or innovation, or necessary security regulation is not observed with the excuse of free market and free trade. Countries and regions differ in levels of internet development and cyber security capacity. Efforts should be made to assist developing countries with capacity building to bridge the digital divide between developing and developed countries so as to ensure the digital economy would benefit all and the weak links of global cyber security are addressed.

6. Building Platform for Cyber Culture Exchange

The internet is an important carrier to spread mankind's fine cultures and promote positive energy. Cyberspace is a place that connects us all. Countries should shoulder the responsibility to carry forward the fine cultures through the internet, develop an uplifting cyber culture, enable culture to play its role in nourishing people and society and driving growth, and jointly work for a sound environment in cyberspace and the prosperity of cyber cultures.

China will work with other countries to give full play to the internet as a shared platform and enhance international exchange with the internet as a bridge to facilitate interactions among fine cultures. Efforts should be made to strengthen the capacity building for cultural exchange and promote diversity of cultures on the internet so as to enrich peoples' mind and thinking and advance human civilization.