Business leaders, officials, and researchers responded to President Xi Jinping's speech during the World Internet Conference on Wednesday. [Special coverage]
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.
Xi's five points positive for Internet: CEO of Breyer Capital
Jim Breyer, founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, said the five points in the high-level strategy are very positive for the evolution of the Internet. He was amazed at the long term strategic view President Xi Jinping has articulated.
When it comes to the Internet and technology, in the United States and elsewhere, we don't often see leaders articulate a 10 to 20 year plan, said Breyer.
For me as a long-term venture capitalist and investor for entrepreneurial companies, it's very exciting to think about the Internet 10 years from now and what it means for our entrepreneurial opportunities in China and in the US, said Breyer.
Breyer was very impressed by his long-term view, the articulation of the importance of the Internet and how it touches so many aspects of our societies.
Opening, sharing and transparency key for Internet: Jack Ma
Jack Ma, Founder of China's Alibaba Group said it was the first time President Xi Jinping talked about his Internet development and management ideas in such a comprehensive way and Xi's remarks are exactly what the whole Internet industry wanted to say.
The Internet is just like water in Wuzhen, interconnected and clear, but needs joint management and governance, Ma said.
For the Internet companies, what they must stick to is their innovation and they shall do it in a brave way, he said.
He said principles of opening, sharing and transparency are the key for joint governance of the Internet and this is a responsibility that shall be shared by both the governments and the individuals.
What Xi mentioned is important: Indian entrepreneur
Gurpreet Singh, Asia president of the Mobile Internet Great Wall Club, said what President Xi Jinping has mentioned is very important after hearing President Xi's speech at the Second World Internet Conference in East China's Wuzhen on Wednesday.
"It's very important that Chinese government takes the initiative as every point he mentioned is very important if you look at the global Internet sector, especially the Internet security and how it's helping the whole world. That is very crucial," said Singh.
"I do see it as China's taking the leadership and helping the whole world to see that we can use the Internet as information to solve things so that they can be better, and protect the security right. I really appreciate President Xi's speech," He added.
Great Wall Club, established in 2008, is aimed at building a mobile Internet cooperation platform with global influence.
Cooperation imperative for Internet industry: FireEye's CSO
Gong Fengmin, co-founder of Cyphort and former chief security officer of FireEye, said he was most excited at Xi Jinping's remarks that the cooperation is an imperative for the Internet industry to inter-connect, innovate and develop. He said this is particularly true for Internet security industry.
Gong said that China's Internet security industry has sound landscape, with trade leaders such as Hillstone and 360 doing well. But it should be kept in mind that no single enterprise can handle everything, so cooperation is inevitable for the industry, which is in line with Xi's remarks.
Xi's speech shows China bullish on Internet growth: Tonga
A World Internet Conference guest from Tonga said the most interesting part of President Xi's speech is the bright prospect the country looks forward to in 2020.
In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2nd World Internet Conference, Xi said that it is estimated that by 2020 broadband in China will basically cover all the villages thanks to the strategy, and more people will have access to the Internet.
"If that's going to happen, it will be a very unique thing for China to accomplish," said Andrew To'imoana, director for Information Department of Tonga, who is attending the World Internet Conference that is being held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province.
"It's very unique for the conference to be held here in Wuzhen. You talk about the technology and advancing stuff, while you see a traditional way of living," he said.
Didi's CEO praises Xi's 'sharing economy' speech
Cheng Wei, chief executive officer of Didi Kuaidi, China's largest car-on-demand service provider, said he is excited to find the term "sharing economy" was mentioned by President Xi Jinping in his keynote speech at the Second World Internet Conference in East China's Wuzhen on Wednesday.
"President Xi said at the opening ceremony that sharing economy and Internet-enabled innovation will be highly supported and promoted," said Cheng.
Cheng said Didi is a typical example of how sharing economy can thrive in China. According to him, the company, which was founded in 2012 with an initial investment of 800,000 yuan ($123,760), has grown into the largest mobile-based transportation platform in the world with an estimated value of 100 billion yuan.
Youku to promote Chinese culture worldwide: CEO
Youku Tudou Inc, the Chinese online streaming site, will take advantage of Internet platform to let people better know Chinese culture by sharing stories filled with happiness and wisdom in China, said its CEO Gu Yongqiang after hearing President Xi Jinping's speech.
Gu said that in response to Xi's statement to "build an online platform to exchange different cultures and promote the exchanges among people around the world" at the Second World Internet Conference in East China's Wuzhen on Wednesday.
Since Internet plays an important role in spreading culture, Youku Tudou Inc will develop more channels to accelerate the spread of online culture and promote the development of human civilization, said Gu.
"In the era of Internet plus full of innovation, I believe we can tell good China stories and our company will become world-class to showcase a more beautiful China," said Gu, "though the company is just 10 years old."
Youku Tudou Inc is investing 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) to stream more and better user-generated content over the next three years.
