Multilateralism, justice urged for guarding data security

Multilateralism, development and justice were the key words when State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi unveiled a three-point principle for effectively addressing risks and challenges posed against data security on Tuesday.

When addressing a seminar on global digital governance through video link in Beijing, Wang elaborated on upholding multilateralism, saying "extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits" is the right path to solving the deficit of global digital governance.

Rules on global data security should be formulated on the basis of universal participation of all parties, and the rules should echo the wishes of all countries and respect the interests of all parties, Wang said.

Wang warned certain countries engaged in unilateralism, blaming other countries with false terms like "clean" and conducting global hunts against other countries' leading enterprises by using security as an excuse.

"This is sheer bullying and should be opposed and abandoned," Wang added.

When speaking on development, Wang said protecting data security is very important to the healthy development of the digital economy, and all countries have the right to protect their own data security in accordance with the law.

"At the same time, all enterprises should be offered an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment," Wang said, adding that "digital protectionism violates the objective law of economic development and does not accord with the trend of globalization".

Digital protectionism not only harms the right of global consumers to have fair access to digital services, but also undermines the development of the countries engaged in digital protectionism, Wang added.

When calling upon countries to adhere to fairness and justice, Wang said efforts to safeguard digital security "should be based on facts and regulations".

"Politicizing data security issues, pursuing double standards and even resorting to slandering and stigmatization violate the basic norms of international relations, and seriously disturb and undermine global digital cooperation and development," Wang said.