China unveils key proposal for global data security

China is willing to launch a global initiative on data security and welcomes the active participation of all parties in order to tackle new problems and challenges, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said.

Wang unveiled the eight-point proposal in Beijing on Tuesday when addressing a seminar on global digital governance through video link.

In this initiative, China calls upon various parties to treat data security objectively and reasonably and oppose sabotaging the critical infrastructure of other countries or stealing important data using information technology.

All parties are expected to take measures to prevent and stop actions that infringe upon personal information, and they should not carry out large-scale monitoring of other countries by abusing information technology, or illegally collect personal information of citizens of other countries, according to the initiative.

The sovereignty, jurisdiction and management of data of other countries should be given respect, and the law enforcement units' demand for cross-border access to data should be addressed through means such as judicial assistance.

Information technology products and service suppliers should not set up back doors in products and services to illegally obtain user data, and such companies should not take advantage of users' dependence on their products to seek illegitimate interests.

Wang said China constructively participates in data security discussions on multilateral venues such as the United Nations, the Group of 20, the BRICS and the ASEAN Regional Forum, and it is committed to contributing Chinese wisdom to the strengthening of global digital governance.