Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) and Lu Wei(3rd L), minister of the State Council's Cyberspace Administration of China meet with representatives from the Internet industries in both China and US during the forum on Spet 23. (Photo by Lao Jiang/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Keynote speech at the eighth China-U.S. Internet Industry Forum by Lu Wei, minister of the State Council's Cyberspace Administration of China
Seattle, September 23, 2015
Honorable Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews,
Honorable Mr Shen Xiangyang and Mr Wu Hequan,
Distinguished representatives from the Internet industry in both China and U.S.,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Good morning! On the occasion of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the U.S., industry leaders from the Internet circle in both China and the U.S. are gathered here in Seattle, jointly holding the U.S.-China Internet Industry Forum and discussing cyberspace cooperation and development. On behalf of Cyber Administration of China, I would like to extend warm congratulations to the opening of the forum and sincere gratitude to the hosts of the forum - Microsoft and Internet Society of China.
President Xi Jinping has stressed on many occasions that the essence of China-U.S. relationship is mutual benefit and win-win. Chinese government will unswervingly implement the basic national policy of opening-up by adopting a more active opening-up strategy, unswervingly improving the level of the open economy, unswervingly bring in foreign investment and foreign technology and unswervingly improve the system and mechanism of opening-up. These four "unswervingly" not only demonstrate an open and inclusive mind to embrace the world, but also further enhance the confidence in mutual benefit and win-win of the Internet industry in both China and the U.S..
President Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. is one for enhancing trust and dispelling suspicion, one for opening-up and cooperation and also one for promoting mutual benefit and win-win. President Xi Jinping gave an interview to The Wall Street Journal the day before yesterday and then made an important speech at last night's reception banquet. Mutual benefit and win-win was the essence on both occasions. When talking about cyberspace problems between China and the U.S., President Xi stressed that we should promote a new model of major-country relationship between China and the U.S. as a new starting point, increase trust and reduce suspicion; China is a firm defender of cyberspace security and China and the U.S. should jointly address shared concerns in cyberspace security and combat the culprits of cyberspace crimes; China equally and fairly treats all market players, including foreign companies, and respect and protect the legitimate interests of foreign companies. These important statements by President Xi clearly explain China's principled position and Internet administration advocacy and display the confidence and determination of a responsible country to maintain cyberspace security and deepen open cooperation.
Fundamentally, China-U.S. Internet Forum is for unswerving promoting mutual benefit and win-win. My hotel in Seattle is close to the port. Standing at my hotel room window and looking out at the distant pier, a panoramic view of prosperity unfolds in front of me, which reminds me that China's cargo ship "Liu Linhai" went across the Pacific Ocean and arrived at Seattle 30 years ago. It's the first ever Chinese cargo ship to reach the U.S. since the opening-up and reform drive, opening a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win between the two countries.
As early as 2,500 years ago in the Spring and Autumn period, there was also a story about ships, namely two people sharing a boat. It goes like this: One day two people went out to sea on one boat and they couldn't stop blaming or quarreling with each other when sailing in the vast sea as waves tumbled constantly amid strong winds and numerous dangerous reefs lay ahead. All of a sudden a storm came and the waves grew more intense the boat was seconds away from capsizing if they didn't lower the sail immediately. However, it was impossible for either of them to lower the sail alone. Faced with shared challenge, they went from confrontation to cooperation and together successfully lowered the sail. The bumpy boat finally sailed smoothly again and the two not only arrived ashore safely but also became friends in need.
Now 2,500 years have passed, and people are faced with a cyberspace as vast as the sea and information revolutionary waves as tumultuous as sea waves. This is an unprecedented new voyage and the unknown far outweighs the known. Despite the constant emergence of various risks and challenges, mutual benefit and win-win remain the mainstream of China-U.S. cyberspace relationship. The U.S. is the birth place of the Internet, which then spread across the world and greatly pushed forward the progress of human society. China has the largest Internet market in the globe and is also a paradise for U.S. hi-tech companies with unlimited business opportunities brought about by more than 600 million Internet users. Over 2,500 American information technology companies have invested in China. While promoting the development of China's Internet industry, their market share and profit are constantly increasing and their business climate is also constantly improving. Many of them have already started to earn more profits in China than in U.S.. They share the fruits of the progress of China's Internet industry.
Given that China and the U.S. complement and integrate in depth with each other in cyberspace, mutual benefit and win-win are the inevitable choice of history. We are in the same boat and it is not an option for either of us to push the other off the boat. We must jointly look ahead, which means we should maintain common interests and address common challenges. We should never go backward or create unnecessary disturbances. Rather we should deal with problems in the process of development and resolve disagreements through cooperation. Looking ahead means we should see the big picture and ignore trivial details so as to avoid escalating small problems into bigger ones. We should never do things that hurt others and do no good to ourselves. Looking ahead also means mutual trust, mutual benefit, cooperation and win-win. We should inject positive energy into China and U.S. cyberspace relationship and our common interests, and guide our boat to the shore of happiness.
First, enhance strategic mutual trust. Ancient Chinese classic philosophy of Sushu says trust can unify different opinions. Former U.S. President Roosevelt also said that the only obstacle to realizing tomorrow's dream is today's suspicion. Only when China and U.S. enhance communication, increase trust and dispel suspicion, can they avoid strategic misunderstanding and misjudgment, defend the fundamental interests of the people of the two countries and bring more benefits to all humanity through the Internet.
Second, jointly lead digital economy. Digital economy is one of the economic fields with fastest development, most innovations and most extensive coverage. It is changing the economic development model rapidly and reconstructing the map of the world economy. We sincerely hope to carry out with the U.S. together the China-U.S. Cooperation Plan on Digital Economy and support emerging enterprises to enter the markets of the two countries actively and equally. We also support them to carry out a new round of technology and innovation cooperation in the areas of big data and artificial intelligence and so on to turn digital economy into a strong engine for the economic growth in both China and the U.S..
Third, jointly maintain cyberspace security. Problems with cyberspace security are inevitable with the fast development of the Internet industry and are the shared challenges faced by all humanity. China and U.S. both are the victims of cyber attacks and shall take the same side. We would like to share more information with the U.S. and jointly combat cyber attacks and cyber commercial theft according to laws and relevant international agreements. We also want to cooperate with the U.S. on Internet emergency responses, conduct "track two dialogue" and jointly study and resolve problems related with cyberspace security.
Fourth, jointly explore the code of conduct. The total number of Internet users in China and the U.S. accounts for one third of that in the world. Websites with the top 10 page views are all from China and the U.S. and the Internet enterprises with the top 10 market values are all from the two countries too. As responsible big countries, China and U.S. should actively explore and push forward the establishment of the code of the conduct of international cyberspace, and cooperate on cyberspace law enforcement, anti-terrorist actions in cyberspace and key infrastructure protection so as to build a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace.
Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
There were only two people on that boat 2,500 years ago, but today the boat of cyberspace carries far more than two people, far more than two countries of China and U.S.. It carries billions of people in the world. We have become an inseparable community of shared development, shared interests and shared destiny. We do not have any other choice but to unite and cooperate when faced with storms, torrents, reefs and dangerous beaches so as to sail the boat of cyberspace forward with indomitable will until the shore of victory when all humanity live in happiness.
Thank you all!
