Full Text: International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace

China on Wednesday released its strategy on cyberspace cooperation. The International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace is the first China has released regarding the virtual domain. Following is the full text:

International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace

Contents

Preface

Chapter I. Opportunities and Challenges

Chapter II. Basic Principles

1. The Principle of Peace

2. The Principle of Sovereignty

3. The Principle of Shared Governance

4. The Principle of Shared Benefits

Chapter III. Strategic Goals

1. Safeguarding Sovereignty and Security

2. Developing A System of International Rules

3. Promoting Fair Internet Governance

4. Protecting Legitimate Rights and Interests of Citizens

5. Promoting Cooperation on Digital Economy

6. Building Platform for Cyber Culture Exchange

Chapter IV. Plan of Action

1. Peace and Stability in Cyberspace

2. Rule-based Order in Cyberspace

3. Partnership in Cyberspace

4. Reform of Global Internet Governance System

5. International Cooperation on Cyber Terrorism and Cyber Crimes

6. Protection of Citizens' Rights and Interests Including Privacy

7. Digital Economy and Sharing of Digital Dividends

8. Global Information Infrastructure Development and Protection

9. Exchange of Cyber Cultures

Conclusion

Preface

Cyberspace is the common space of activities for mankind. The future of cyberspace should be in the hands of all countries. Countries should step up communications, broaden consensus and deepen cooperation to jointly build a community of shared future in cyberspace.

—Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, 2015/12/16

Today, the rapid advancement of information technology represented by the Internet has brought about new ways of social production, created new space for people's life, opened new horizons of state governance and enhanced people's ability to understand and shape the world.

As the common asset of human society, the Internet has turned the world into a global village. In the interconnected cyberspace, countries are bound together by intertwined interests. It is in the shared interests and also the responsibility of the international community to safeguard peace and security, promote openness and cooperation and foster a community of shared future in cyberspace.

International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace provides a comprehensive explanation of China's policy and position on cyber-related international affairs as well as the basic principles, strategic goals and plan of action in its external relations on that front. It aims to guide China's participation in international exchange and cooperation in cyberspace for the next period of time, and encourage the international community to come together to enhance dialogue and cooperation and build a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative and orderly cyberspace and a multilateral, democratic and transparent global Internet governance system.

Chapter I. Opportunities and Challenges

With the accelerating trend toward a multi-polar, economically globalized and culturally diverse world and the profoundly changing global governance system, mankind has entered a new era of information revolution. The rapid advancement of information and communication technologies (ICT) represented by the Internet has changed people's way of production and life and boosted market innovation, economic prosperity and social development. Cyberspace is becoming a new channel for information dissemination, a new frontier of people's work and life, a new engine for economic growth, a new carrier for cultural prosperity, a new platform of social governance, a new bridge for communication and cooperation and a new domain of state sovereignty.

While creating tremendous opportunities, cyberspace also faces a number of new issues and challenges. Security and stability in cyberspace has become a global concern which bears on the sovereignty, security and development interests of all countries. Problems such as unbalanced development, inadequate rules and inequitable order in cyberspace have become more evident. The digital divide among countries and regions is widening. Critical information infrastructure faces considerable vulnerability and potential risk. The existing global governance system of basic Internet resources hardly reflects the desires and interests of the majority of countries. Cyber terrorism has become a global public menace. Cyber crimes are spreading. Interference in other countries' internal affairs by abusing ICT and massive cyber surveillance activities happen from time to time. The absence of general international rules in cyberspace that effectively govern the behavior of all parties hampers the development of cyberspace.

No countries can stay immune from such problems and challenges. The international community can only work together through intensified cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding and accommodation so as to put in place a rule-based global governance system in cyberspace.