Joining hands for a shared future in Internet expansion
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Second, China will continue to open its Internet market. Throughout its development, foreign-funded IT companies in China have played a central role by introducing their advanced technology, administrative skills and innovative concepts that helped quicken the pace of progress.
Now, a rapidly growing number of Internet enterprises are anxiously awaiting their entry into the Chinese market.
A more open Chinese Internet market will benefit these foreign enterprises, especially in the wake of the global financial crisis. Those foreign IT enterprises in China are faring well, and quite a few have shown steady financial increases from their Chinese business operations.
On the Chinese side, the Chinese government will continue to perfect its policies, regulations and laws governing its procedures in the international market, in accordance with related WTO rules, to provide a stable and transparent investment environment for foreign enterprises. We sincerely welcome American enterprises to participate in China's continued reform and opening up, and to share in the opportunities and results of the Internet industry's prosperous development in China.
Third, China is committed to governing the Internet according to the law. Sustained development of the Internet depends on an enhanced legal system -- this is both an experience and a basic principal of the development of the Internet industry in China over the past 16 years. Countries worldwide are enacting legislation regarding the Internet and information technology to adapt to the new problems and challenges posed by Internet technology. Like its global partners, the Chinese government, too, needs to improve its Internet legislation, to ensure the industry's healthy development and protect the interests of enterprises, and the constitutional and legal rights of its citizens. The government will punish illegal activities and crimes, such as online cheating, gambling and pornographic content circulation, according to law, to stifle the effects of illegal information on national security and the public, especially to minors.
China has its own national situation, with its unique culture and characteristics of development. But we are willing to borrow from the legislative and administrative experiences of other countries – changing them to fit China's needs – to perfect our own Internet laws and regulations and establish a legislative system for the Internet that is appropriate for China and is line with Internet development rules.
While the government has the inescapable responsibility for Internet governance, we advocate industry self-discipline and public supervision. Technology safeguards shall be adopted to prevent the spread of illegal information online, and public education shall be enhanced to increase their Internet rule and regulation awareness.
Fourth, China is willing to work with other countries to safeguard network security. Each day, Internet security threats become more numerous and more dangerous. The growing number of network hacks, virus attacks and other illegal activities are severely endangering the world's Internet networks. While a computer-based attack may not seem relevant to one's everyday life, such strikes can seriously impact our economic and social lives.
The Chinese government's policy on anti-hacking has always been transparent and persistent – that is, it has always been against any form of network attack and will always be willing to cooperate internationally when it comes to Internet security protection and network anti-terrorism activities. Even as different social and cultural traditions exist between countries – and this includes differing concerns on Internet information safety – we will fully respect different viewpoints from individual countries. Our goal is to find a common ground and join together to fight crime conducted via global communications networks and safeguard our network security.
Fifth, China actively promotes international communication and cooperation in the Internet field. The Internet is a worldwide link, but networks in each country are subject to individual sovereignty laws. As a result, it is necessary to establish an exchange and cooperation mechanism for quick and easy communication between countries, and as such, the State Council Information Office actively promotes communication and cooperation worldwide involving the Internet. Establishing a bilateral exchange mechanism between the Chinese and US governments has enabled us to negotiate on equal grounds, and to exchange our views and experiences on Internet policy, legislation and security. Because of this, we have increased our understanding of and cooperation with each other through engagements like this forum.
Both the Chinese and American governments should encourage their Internet organizations to carry out more exchanges to reach common understandings and work together to solve the Internet development problems we face together. Our two governments should support more academic exchanges between scholars and experts to share research results and find solutions to various social dilemmas brought about by the ever-changing Internet.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Both China and the United States are Internet giants. The US is the birthplace of the Internet and leads the global Internet technology trend. China has the largest number of Internet users in the world and is also the largest information product consuming market. We are complementary to one another and share many common interests concerning the Internet. Though our views on some Internet-related issues may be different, helping the Internet progress into a new age is our common goal. With mutual respect, we can increase mutual understanding and settle our differences through cooperation. Let us join hands to overcome these barriers and look forward to a bright future of China-US Internet collaboration.
I wish the Fourth US-China Internet Industry Forum all the best.
Thank you very much.
