Community with a shared future in cyberspace can help the world pass the tests of the times: China Daily editorial

President Xi Jinping addressed the opening ceremony of the 2023 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit via video link on Wednesday.

In his speech, Xi stressed that the international community needs to deepen exchanges and practical cooperation to improve public access to information-based services, bridge the digital divide, and ensure the development of the internet benefits people's livelihoods.

Xi put forward the idea of a community with a shared future in cyberspace at the second WIC in 2015. The proposal has since garnered widespread international recognition and is all set to be raised to a new stage as it can help address the development deficit and security challenges troubling the world, while enhancing mutual learning among civilizations.

The great achievements China has made in using the internet to improve its governance, people's livelihoods and fulfill its international responsibility ever since Xi put forward the vision of a global cyber community have demonstrated how the digital revolution can be positively transformative.

With that referential experience to draw on, the new stage of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace should prioritize the forming of a more equal and inclusive cyberspace.

Xi stressed that China is willing to share with other countries its experience, and is willing to work with all parties to implement the Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative and promote the safe development of AI. This cutting-edge technology has already merged with industries and people's social lives through the internet, but it is not without risks.

Likewise, although the internet has profoundly changed the way people live and work and vigorously promoted social progress, problems such as the unbalanced development of the internet, and imperfect rules and disorder in the cyberspace have become increasingly prominent.

That's why Xi called for the concerted efforts of all countries to crack down on cybercrimes, strengthen data security and personal information protection, and properly respond to the risks and challenges brought by sci-tech development.

The strengths of the internet need to be leveraged to fill the development gaps in individual countries as well as in the world.

But that has never seemed to be on the agenda of some developed countries that are accustomed to their first-come, first-served privileges in the real world, and expect the same in cyberspace.

Some are even willing to weaponize their know-how and technology advantages to defend their privileged position, turning cyberspace into a new arena for their geopolitical games.

All countries should be wary of that.

Which is why Xi urged all countries to respect cyber sovereignty, an individual country's way of internet governance, and oppose any that seek hegemony, bloc confrontation and an arms race in cyberspace, all of which pose new threats to world peace and development.