Chinese envoy calls for establishment of int' l code of conduct on cyberspace

A Chinese official Friday called on the global community to jointly bring about an international code of conduct on cyberspace at the UN headquarters in New York.

Wang Qun, director-general of the Arms Control Department of Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the call at the General Debate of the First Committee of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly.

"It is highly necessary and pressing for the international community to jointly bring about an international code of conduct on cyberspace at an early date," Wang said.

He said that the cyberspace is "an anonymous and flat space with no borders" and China believes that an international code of conduct on cyberspace acceptable to all should comply with the UN Charter and other universally recognized basic norms governing international relations, respect the cyberspace sovereignty of each state, among others.

The code of conduct should resolve international disputes in this field by peaceful means and ensure that the cyberspace can only be utilized for activities for the maintenance of international peace and security, Wang said.

Under such a code of conduct, cyberspace should not be used as a means to interfere in the internal affairs of other states or to the detriment of their national interests, he added.

China commends the work of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on information security, and welcomes its latest report, said Wang. "China expects that this cooperative mechanism will keep its momentum by focusing its work at the next stage on working out something in a nature of an international code of conduct on cyberspace."

"China, for its part, will continue to commit itself to establishing a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace and pushing for an early international code of conduct acceptable to all," he said. Endi