President Xi Jinping will elaborate on China's Internet policies on Wednesday at a key meeting as the country explores ways to upgrade its online governance.[Special coverage]
Xi will, for the first time, address the World Internet Conference (WIC), which opens Wednesday in Wuzhen, a scenic water town to the southwest of Shanghai.
Schedules are usually tight for Chinese leaders near year-end, and Xi's attendance highlights China's readiness to share its Internet governance experience and learn from the international community.
Insiders said China's efforts in Internet governance can be summed up as "cleaning cyberspace in accordance with the law; exploiting it with an open mind."
"China is exploring a new way of Internet governance with rule of law at its core," said Lu Wei, head of the Cyberspace Administration of China, the top Internet regulator.
"In other words, we should correctly handle relations between freedom and order," he said, adding that the Internet is not beyond law.
The country is making continuous efforts to boost Internet-based business, which it counts on to power its slowing economy, and welcomes foreign companies in the sector.
INTENSIFIED CRACKDOWN
Since the current central leadership took office in late 2012, the Chinese government has stepped up the crackdown on online rumors, pornography, gambling and other cyber crimes.
"These measures were aimed at protecting teenagers and safeguarding Internet users' lawful interests," said Lu, adding that notable progress has been made.
At least 197 people were punished this year for fabricating or spreading rumors about the stock market rout, Tianjin warehouse blasts and other key events, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
About 24,000 pornographic websites were shut down and 596 cases prosecuted this year.
To create a legal basis for the crackdown, China promulgated the National Security Law in July and is seeking public opinions on drafts of the Cyber Security Law and the Anti-terrorism Law.
The laws are in line with Xi's support for "Internet sovereignty," which means that every country has the right to govern its cyberspace within its borders.
In a message sent to the first WIC last year, Xi said Internet sovereignty must be respected.
Since then, the top leader has made similar remarks on different occasions, stressing that rule of law should apply to the Internet to safeguard a country's sovereignty, security and development interests.
China established a central leading group on cyber security and informationization in 2014 with Xi holding the reins.
"Without cyber security, there is no national security," he warned.
