Chinese President Xi Jinping calls for cyberspace security, technological breakthroughs

World Today

Photo: Xinhua

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for enhanced development of the Internet and harnessing it for the benefit of the country and the people.

Xi, who also heads China’s central Internet security and informatization leading group, made the remarks in his speech addressed at a symposium on cyber security and informatization on Tuesday.

Xi stressed that the new development concepts — innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing, should be implemented during the Internet’s development.

Security is a prerequisite for Internet development, and development will also safeguard Internet security, Xi said.

Stressing cybersecurity, Xi urged accelerated development of a system to protect key information infrastructure and ensure online security.

Internet defense capabilities should be enhanced, Xi said, adding that securing the online environment is a common responsibility for all of society and requires commitment from the government, enterprises, social organizations and all netizens.

He also called on the industry to achieve more breakthroughs in core Internet technology.

“More personnel, material and financial resources should be put toward research and development of core and strategically important technologies,” the president said.

He called on entrepreneurs, scholars, scientists and technicians in the industry to work together toward the goal.

“New technology is the achievement of civilization and we will never resist its development as long as it helps improve productivity and the people’s lives,” Xi said.

He required that cyberspace be imbued with positive energy and resonated to mainstream ideology, in the hope of creating a clean and righteous environment.

The experts attending the meeting included Wu Manqing, chief engineer of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), Jack Ma, chairman of Internet commerce company Alibaba, Ren Zhengfei, CEO of tech company Huawei and Tong Liqiang, director of Beijing cyberspace information office.

Story by Xinhua.