Xi's speech: Reactions from the ground

Xi's speech underscores Internet's important role: UK expert

Kamel Mellahi. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Internet is one of the key infrastructure of the global economy and accounts for a big portion of economic growth in mature economies, said Kamel Mellahi, a professor of strategic management at Warwick Business School.

President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the Second World Conference on Wednesday underscores the important role the Internet is going to play in the future Chinese economy, and gives hints on how China is planning to unleash the potential of the Internet, said Mellahi.

Xi's five points positive for Internet: CEO of Breyer Capital

Jim Breyer, founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, said the five points in the high-level strategy are very positive for the evolution of the Internet. He was amazed at the long term strategic view President Xi Jinping has articulated.

When it comes to the Internet and technology, in the United States and elsewhere, we don't often see leaders articulate a 10 to 20 year plan, said Breyer.

For me as a long-term venture capitalist and investor for entrepreneurial companies, it's very exciting to think about the Internet 10 years from now and what it means for our entrepreneurial opportunities in China and in the US, said Breyer.

Breyer was very impressed by his long-term view, the articulation of the importance of the Internet and how it touches so many aspects of our societies.

Democracy, transparency key words in Xi's speech: Expert

Democracy and transparency are the keywords in President Xi Jinping's speech, and they are the Internet governance principles to achieve Internet freedom and order, said Zhang Ying, associate dean for China business and relations at Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University in the Netherlands.

Along with what Xi emphasizes in this conference: freedom is what order is meant for and order is the foundation for freedom. China has been on the way to Internet governance transformation, but at the same time requests the world to respect and accept its effort, said Zhang.

Democracy means variety and freedom; transparency implies respect and regulation. Xi's speech implies a serious call for a collective discussion on international Internet governance as well as decision-making models for an upgraded international Internet order and regulation, added Zhang.

According to Zhang, the World Internet Conference is very important and especially to bring Internet-related issues such as cyber development and security and collaboration and Internet companies/sectors together at a larger and open international platform to meet and discuss.

The initiation of this conference (since last year) implies China's vision to integrate into international Internet governance for a global audience. The collaboration with a list of key Internet companies to set up this conference indicates China's effort in cyber integration at multilevel platform from a global perspective, said Zhang.