Culture CLASH: Wuzhen Declaration spurned at World Internet Conference in China

Positive energy zapped, cyberspace shivers

Wuzhen Declaration

The following text was developed on 21 November, 2014 – the final day of the three-day-long World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, China, in an attempt to summarize the meeting. It was never adopted.

The First World Internet Conference was successfully held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province from November 19 to 21, 2014. Participants in the Conference acknowledge that the Internet is increasingly becoming a leading force of innovation-driven development and is powering economic and social progress. The Internet has turned the world into a global village and made the international community a highly interdependent community of common destiny. While enjoying rapid development, the Internet has posed new challenges to national sovereignty, security and development interests, which requires the international community to meet urgently and seriously, expand consensus and strengthen cooperation.

We call on the international community to work together to build an international Internet governance system of multilateralism, democracy and transparency and a cyberspace of peace, security, openness and cooperation.

First, enhance cyberspace connectivity. We should accelerate efforts to build Internet infrastructure, increase bandwidth, break information barriers and remove the information gap, so as to ensure that more developing countries will benefit from an interconnected information expressway.

Second, respect Internet sovereignty of all countries. We should respect each country's rights to the development, use and governance of the Internet, refrain from abusing resource and technological strengths to violate other countries' Internet sovereignty, and build an Internet order of equality and mutual benefit.

Third, jointly safeguard cyber security. We should actively cope with challenges to cyberspace security and reject all forms of cyber attacks and Internet theft. We should work together to fight cyber crimes, protect individual privacy and information security, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.

Fourth, jointly fight cyber terrorism. We should work for the establishment of an international cooperation mechanism against cyber terrorism to fight cyber terrorism together and destroy all dissemination channels of information of violent terrorism.

Fifth, advance development of Internet technology. We should strengthen research and development, dissemination and cooperation on cloud computing, big data and Internet of things, carry out personnel exchanges, and promote more extensive and secure application of sophisticated Internet technologies.

Sixth, vigorously develop the Internet economy. We should improve cyberspace trade rules, step up cross-border e-commerce cooperation, facilitate customs clearance and logistics, expand information consumption, and quicken steps to form a global Internet market.

Seventh, widely spread the positive energy. We should carry forward and promote fine cultures and produce more digital cultural products of high quality, in order to meet people's cultural needs and give a sense of belonging to mankind in cyberspace.

Eighth, dedicate to the healthy growth of young people. We should strengthen the protection of minors online, crack down on the spread of pornography and violence, and make sure that the Internet does not damage the future of mankind.

Ninth, work for a cyberspace shared and governed by all. Following the principles of mutual respect and mutual trust, we should set up a regular cooperation mechanism and communication platform of cyberspace, so as to deepen communication, pursue common governance and realize win-win results, and jointly create a bright future of the Internet.

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