Xi's speech: Reactions from the ground

Xi's speech underscores Internet's important role: UK expert

Internet is one of the key infrastructure of the global economy and accounts for a big portion of economic growth in mature economies, said Kamel Mellahi, a professor of strategic management at Warwick Business School.

President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the Second World Conference on Wednesday underscores the important role the Internet is going to play in the future Chinese economy, and gives hints on how China is planning to unleash the potential of the Internet, said Mellahi.

Democracy, transparency key words in Xi's speech: Expert

Democracy and transparency are the keywords in President Xi Jinping's speech, and they are the Internet governance principles to achieve Internet freedom and order, said Zhang Ying, associate dean for China business and relations at Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University in the Netherlands.

Along with what Xi emphasizes in this conference: freedom is what order is meant for and order is the foundation for freedom. China has been on the way to Internet governance transformation, but at the same time requests the world to respect and accept its effort, said Zhang.

Democracy means variety and freedom; transparency implies respect and regulation. Xi's speech implies a serious call for a collective discussion on international Internet governance as well as decision-making models for an upgraded international Internet order and regulation, added Zhang.

According to Zhang, the World Internet Conference is very important and especially to bring Internet-related issues such as cyber development and security and collaboration and Internet companies/sectors together at a larger and open international platform to meet and discuss.

The initiation of this conference (since last year) implies China's vision to integrate into international Internet governance for a global audience. The collaboration with a list of key Internet companies to set up this conference indicates China's effort in cyber integration at multilevel platform from a global perspective, said Zhang.

Xi's speech inspiring: Maldives offical

Mohamed Ashmalee, State Minister of Finance and Treasury of Maldives, on Thursday shares his thought on President Xi Jinping's speech addressed at the opening of the Second World Internet Conference.

President Xi's speech is quite inspiring. First of all, he talked about cyber collaboration, coordination, unity and cybersecurity. Maldives and China can work closely on these aspects.

Also, I think every country is unique and different in its own way so it is natural for every country to have some reservations. But still, we have to come to a consensus for global development.

This is the most important way for global integration. Besides, I think the Silk Road initiative can provide the largest potential for China-Maldives collaboration. It offers a platform to share resources.