China outlines vision for global cyber community: China Daily editorial

The problems plaguing the internet and the global threats and challenges in cyberspace are becoming increasingly prominent. As a result, the governance of cyberspace is facing ever more prominent problems.

The complex cybersecurity situation calls for a strong global response and more just, reasonable and effective cyberspace governance.

The white paper titled Jointly Build a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace that the State Council Information Office issued on Monday introduces China's vision for the development of the internet and improved governance of cyberspace, and outlines its actions and achievements in promoting the building of a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

The lessons it contains deserve the attention of all countries that look forward to benefitting from the advancement of information technology and the bettering of cyberspace governance.

China has always adhered to the philosophy of people-centered development, and it attaches great importance to the internet. As a result, the country has contributed tremendously to building a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative and orderly cyberspace at home and abroad.

China's proposal of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace responds to the risks and challenges facing cyberspace, and demonstrates the country's commitment to contributing to human progress and world harmony.

The building of a community with a shared future in cyberspace should be based on multilateral and multiparty participation and consultation, respect for cyber sovereignty, and a spirit of partnership. And the international community should be encouraged to expand pragmatic cooperation and jointly deal with associated risks and challenges.

Yet the governance of cyberspace is facing ever more prominent problems because some countries define it as a venue for a new turf war rather than a realm for cooperation. They are exploiting the internet and information technology as a tool to seek hegemony, interfere in other countries' internal affairs, and engage in large-scale cyber theft and surveillance, raising the risk of conflict in cyberspace.

To build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, countries should adhere to a vision of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance, and promote a multilateral, democratic and transparent international internet governance system.

In the process, as China has proposed in the white paper, cyber sovereignty must be respected; peace and security safeguarded, openness and cooperation promoted and good order maintained.

China's cyberspace governance wisdom, endeavors and achievements should prompt more countries to pool their efforts for the common purpose of creating an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory digital environment so that more countries and people can benefit from the internet and ensure that it actively contributes to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.