The digital intelligent revolution centered on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, and cybersecurity has become a major issue concerning the sovereignty, security and development interests of all countries. Meanwhile, the taboo on cyber warfare has been openly broken. Emerging technologies including AI has escalated cybersecurity risks, reducing the threshold for cyberattacks and conflicts between countries, and exposing critical infrastructure to high cybersecurity risks. The global digital and intelligent industrial and supply chains are deliberately severed, the deficit in global cyber governance is widening, and the digital intelligent world is faced with the danger of division and disorder.

This year marks the launch of the Global Mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security and advancing responsible State behavior in the use of ICTs. Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace and drawing on international consensus, including the four global initiatives and the Global Digital Compact, China puts forward the following propositions:

Abiding by international rules and safeguarding peace and stability. Cyberspace is an extension of the real world. All countries should observe the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter in cyberspace, in particular the principles of non-use or threat of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-interference in internal affairs.

All countries should commit to enhancing mutual trust through strategic communication and resolving differences through consultation and dialogue, jointly oppose acts of aggression through cyber means, and prevent and avoid cyber arms race and cyber conflicts between nations.

No country shall sabotage the critical infrastructure of others through cyber means, particularly critical information infrastructure concerning people’s wellbeing and public interests, in such areas as energy, transportation, water conservancy, finance, public services, e-government, and defense science, technology and industry.

Respecting digital sovereignty and promoting development for all. In the digital intelligent age, it is important to ensure that the benefits of development are enjoyed by all countries and peoples. This is crucial to bridging the AI and digital divide and achieving sustainable development. Countries should respect each other’s digital sovereignty, and they all have the right to independently choose their paths of digital intelligent technology development including AI, as well as to independently choose AI technologies, products, and services in light of their respective national conditions. No country should be forced to take sides.

Countries should view cybersecurity issues in a fact-based, comprehensive and objective manner, and promote the innovative development of cyberspace aimed at openness and universal benefits based on fair competition. It is important to refrain from over-securitization, seeking technological monopoly or exclusionary arrangements, or pursuing digital intelligent hegemony driven by one’s own national priority.

Countries should foster a fair, just and non-discriminatory development environment, and keep global digital and intelligent industrial and supply chains open, secure and stable. Countries should also strengthen international cooperation on capacity building for developing countries to enhance the equity, effectiveness and inclusiveness of global digital intelligent development.

Upholding multilateralism and addressing risks effectively. Countries should take seriously the disruptive impact of emerging technologies such as AI and quantum technology on cyber and data security, and develop and formulate international cyberspace rules that keep pace with the times.

It is important to strike a balance between development and security, uphold the leading role of the government and participation of all stakeholders, and work to build a multilateral, democratic, and transparent global Internet governance system. State governance should not be replaced by private sector governance, international governance should not be replaced by small-circle governance, and no country should unilaterally impose rules on others.

Countries should promote the establishment of global standards and system for testing and assessing the risk levels of AI large models, and ensure that AI serves as a new shield for cybersecurity rather than a new tool for unilateral pursuit of hegemony.

It is important to boost cross-border data cooperation, enable transboundary data circulation, develop global principles and norms governing cross-border data flows, and protect data security for all countries.

Cyberspace in the digital intelligent age is highly interconnected. A secure, stable, and prosperous cyberspace is of great significance to all countries and the world. China is ready to join hands with the international community to leverage the Global Mechanism as a platform to strengthen communication and exchanges, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, and deepen experience sharing and mutual learning, with a view to jointly building a more just, equitable, and effective international cyberspace order and a community with a shared future in cyberspace.