At the opening of the second World Internet Conference on Wednesday, China made sure its voice was heard: Every country has the right to create its own Internet governance model, and the cyber sovereignty of all nations should be respected. [Photo/Agencies]

China had 731 million internet users by the end of last year, equivalent to Europe's total population, and such an enormous number of internet users means China's views on cyberspace cannot be ignored.

Aside from being the catalyst for the world's largest e-commerce market, the internet has also developed into an important vehicle for innovative economic and commercial models. The closer integration of China's internet industry with the global market, which can be expected with the advancement of the government's Internet Plus strategy, will more forcibly drive the world's economic growth.

China's ever-rising influence in the internet in recent years has to a large extent benefited from its growing comprehensive national strength. After two decades of explosive development, the internet has had a profound influence on China's politics, economy, culture and other aspects.

At the Third World Internet Conference held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, in November 2016, President Xi Jinping put forward four goals for the healthy development of cyberspace－promoting equality and mutual respect, being innovative, continually opening-up and sharing, and safeguarding its security and orderly development.

Xi also listed five proposals for developing a cyberspace governance system to promote fairness and justice.

It is believed that as its say in the internet increases, China will make greater contributions to the establishment of a multilateral, democratic and transparent global internet governance system and a cyberspace community of shared destiny in the process of internet interconnectivity, sharing and common governance.

-HUANQIU.COM