China firmly committed to int'l cooperation in global Internet development: ambassador

China is firmly committed to international cooperation in cyberspace and stands ready to build, safeguard and contribute to global Internet development, Chinese ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said Tuesday.

China is an active participant in global Internet advancement and attaches great importance to international cooperation in cyberspace, Liu said in a keynote speech at the "Cyber 2016" conference hosted by the Chatham House, a London-based British think-tank.

"When it comes to building a safe cyberspace, we are all in it together. China stands ready to join hands with other countries to foster a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace," he told his audience.

The ambassador said that building a "virtual Belt and Road" is an important part of the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative.

The Belt and Road initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, proposed by China in 2013 for improved cooperation with countries in a vast part of Asia, Europe and Africa.

"China is ready to work with countries along the routes to advance Internet infrastructure, remove information barriers, narrow the digital divide, and build a digital network to facilitate cooperation," Liu said.

"This cooperation will bring greater benefit to people and countries along the routes of the Belt and Road," he continued, adding: "China is living up to what people expect from a big country with responsibility."

Liu stressed that China gives high priority to cyber security, which is a "core focus of cyberspace governance" in the country.

China "aims to ensure the security, reliability and controllability of the Internet, including key technologies, critical infrastructures, and systems and data of important sectors," he said.

"Cyber crimes, commercial thefts and hacker attacks against government are shared international threats," the Chinese envoy noted. "All these menaces should be firmly combated in accordance with relevant laws and international conventions."

He urged that "the interpretation and application of international law in cyberspace must be aimed at enhancing common security rather than encouraging hegemony or power politics."

"Attempts by any nation to have Internet supremacy over others will leave hidden risks of potential turbulence and conflicts," warned the ambassador. Endit