In an effort to deepen global cooperation in building a smart society, as well as tackling rising threats hindering the security of cyberspace, foreign ministers and officials across the world gathered in Wuzhen, East China’s Zhejiang Province Sunday, to discuss the future of intelligent connectivity and cooperation.

During the Ministerial Forum of The Sixth World Internet Conference, at an event hosted by the People’s Daily, jointly organized by the People’s Daily Online, China Internet Development Forum and China Telecom, Wang Qinmin, director of the National E-government Expert Committee of China, said that the essence of building a smart society is to improve the people’s livelihood, while advanced information and smart technologies should be used to tackle social problems including targeted poverty alleviation, medical care, social security and more.

Zhuang Rongwen, minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China, noted that a smart society is crucial for human’s common welfare and the future development of the whole world, and China is willing to cooperate with all countries around the globe to promote the construction of a smart society.

Echoing Zhuang, Li Baoshan, president of the People’s Daily, stressed the importance of international cooperation in building a smart society.

“The construction of a smart society requires  deepened international cooperation in cyber space, as well as joint efforts in building a cyberspace for shared future. Thus we need to promote openness and cooperation, providing a comprehensive legal environment for the development of cyberspace, with a focus on humanity,” said Li.

　　Li Baoshan, president of the People's Daily, delivers a speech at the conference. (Photo: People's Daily )

Rashid Alimov, former Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, told the People’s Daily Online that a better cyberspace environment requires a set of universal regulations.

“There is an urgent need for us to develop universal rules, principles and norms to regulate actions and behaviors in the cyberspace, as well as promoting the fast development of internet technologies,” said Alimov.

Ali Salih, minister of State for Communication, Science and Technology of the Maldives, told the People’s Daily Online that public policy is essential to ensure the realization of the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution.

“I firmly believe that there is an urgent need for a policy and regulatory environment which celebrates digital advancement and does not penalize innovation,” he said.

Foreign officials and ministers also discussed cyber cooperation with their Chinese counterparts, adding that though competition exists in technological innovation, cooperation is also needed to promote the development of a smart society.

“The digital domain, with its potential to bring us together and to bring out the greatest possibilities of the human spirit, is an area where we must learn to cooperate. Though America remains the dominant digital power, China is rapidly rising in the digital sphere…We see these two great revolutionary powers coming closer together in the ways they understand the digital domain,” said Bruce McConnell, executive vice president of the US-based East-West Institute.

“We must learn together how to build a community of common destiny for mankind, a smart society that has characteristics of the East and West, of the North and the South — that is why we are all here in Wuzhen today,” added McConnell.

“The Philippines still has our fair share of catching up to do compared top our counterparts from countries like China, America and Japan, but we will continue to do more, and I believe we will do our fair share as part of the global community,” said Ryan Vincent Uy, assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office of the Philippines.

Kicking off on October 20, the 6th World Internet Conference will last two days, including several themed panels and business events.