Zhi Zhenfeng: Respecting Cyberspace Sovereignty Is the First Principle of International Internet Governance

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Statistics show that, by December 2015, China had near 700 million Internet users and in August 2016, the Second Draft of the Chinese Law on Internet Safety has been published to solicit public opinions. The draft law has drawn extensive public attention both in China and abroad. Recently Mr. Zhi Zhenfeng, a researcher at CASS Law Institute, was interviewed by the Overseas Edition of the newspaper People’s Daily on various issues of cyberspace governance. In the interview, Mr. Zhi pointed out that taking the people as the center is a basic demand made by President Xi Jinping on the development of the Internet in China; leading cadres of the governments at various levels should surf the Internet often and respond to the concerns of netizens; China should master the core technologies of the Internet, which include basic and general technologies, asymmetric technologies, “trump card” technologies, frontline technologies and subversive technologies, correctly handle the relationship between openness and autonomy, adhere to openness and innovation, actively promote the transformation of results of researches on core technologies, and support the collaboration in research on core technologies between strong enterprises. Respecting cyberspace sovereignty is one of the “four cardinal principles” of international cyberspace governance put forward by President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Second World Internet Conference. The other three principles are: upholding peace and security, promoting openness and cooperation, and building a good order. Respecting cyberspace sovereignty, as the primary principle of cyberspace governance, is an important contribution made by China to the development of international cyberspace governance system. On the basis of the “four cardinal principles”, President Xi has also put forward the “five-point proposals” on joint construction of cyberspace community of shared future, namely speeding up the construction of the global Internet infrastructure, promoting connectivity, creating a cultural exchange and sharing platform, promoting innovative development of network economy and common prosperity, safeguarding Internet security and promoting orderly development, constructing internet governance system, and promoting fairness and justice.