On April 20, a ceremony for the 20th Anniversary Ceremony of China’s Full Function Access to Internet held in Beijing. The event was jointly hosted by the Internet Society of China (ISC), the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) and the Computer Network Information Center (CNIC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Mr. Wu Hequan, the President of ISC, addressed the welcoming speech. Mr. Wu said that China Internet has gained remarkable achievements in the last 20 years, which were greatly attributed to the  leadership of government administrations, the hard work of Internet pioneers, the active participation of the general public, and the supports of the Internet organizations. Since the establishment in 2001, ISC kept devoting to promoting Internet development in China, proposing industry self-discipline, providing better services for the member units and calling for a safe and clear Internet to everyone. Recognized and appreciated by all circles, ISC will continue acting as a bridge to serve the industry.

Mr. Shang Bing, the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) pointed out that China Internet has experienced sustainable and healthy development in the last 20 years with the joint efforts of government, industry and all sectors of society. Nowadays, Internet takes a significant position in strategic emerging industries and becomes the fundamental and important channel to optimize the economic structure, transform the growth mode, drive social development and promote reform and opening up process. Also, Mr. Shang stressed that under a new round of innovation and transformation, Internet played an increasingly important role in the economic society functioning, which may inevitably lead to some security issues. Therefore, how to drive Internet into further development and how to enhance network security come to be a strategic move to improve China’s international cyber space competitive capability to pursue long-term development and national security and still need joint efforts.

Mr. Shang said that the Central Government has established Central Internet Security and Informatization Leading Group with Mr. Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of CPC Central Committee, as the group leader. Based on in-depth understanding of industry development law and national conditions, the Party’s Central Committee proposed new goals and deployment for China Internet development and management. To build China into a strong cyberpower., the Leading Group asked the departments concerned to proceed from international and domestic situation, conduct overall layout and plan, and seek for innovative development. The strategic deployment should be carried forward in accordance with the two “Hundred Year” goals, forging towards the aims of the primary popularization of network infrastructure, the noticeable improvement of independent innovation capability, the overall development of information economy and the powerful guarantee for network security step by step.

In addition, Mr. Shang addressed that MIIT will continuously abide by Internet development law and regulations to promote the development of China Internet in a sustainable and healthy manner.

Ms. Wang Xiujun, the Deputy Director of the State Internet Information Office said that China Internet experienced veritable development over the last 20 years. Internet acted as new space for the public working and living, new drive for economic and social development, new platform for culture development, new manner for government administration and public services as well as new bond for strengthening international cooperation and exchange.

On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of China’s Full Function Access to Internet, the CPC Central Committee established the Central Internet Security and Informatization Leading Group and attached great attention to Internet security and informatization. On February 27, General Secretary Mr. Xi Jinping presided over the kick-off meeting and addressed the speech. According to the deployment of the meeting, the underlying steps are to enhance the top-level design and strategic plan, speed up the formulation of Internet security and Informatization development strategy, and coordinate macroscopic projects with major policies. Also, it is necessary to upraise informatization level in national economy and social development, promote information industry development and drive culture publishing and radio, film and television digitization as well as improve military and civilian integration. Accelerating the formulation of network security and informatization laws and regulations and encouraging independent innovation are also required to build comprehensive network security system. Improving online publicity in an innovation manner, giving full scope to the theme of the times and applying positive energy is the way to govern Internet ecosystem comprehensively. It is required to speed up talent team training process in different domains, types and levels to enhance network security awareness of all society. To achieve the grand goal of building China into a strong cyberpower, the Internet Information Office should focused on building a civilized, faithful, law-ruled, secure and innovative cyber space for the people.

Mr. Zhang Yaping, the Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), addressed that network security and informatization have been promoted to national strategic level due to the increasingly significant role of Internet in national economy and social development, continuous network technique innovation and Internet economy prosperity in the 20 years’ development. Taking the correlation techniques, such as, new generation Internet, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing and Big Data, as the vital research field, CAS will continuously exert comprehensive scientific and research advantages to support the implementation of the strategy of building China into an Internet power under the national overall planning. In honor of the 20th Anniversary of China’s Full Function Access to Internet, CAS and the departments and enterprises concerned jointly prepared for the establishment of China Internet Museum in March 2014 and the documentary Cyber China—The Lead of Technology was officially issued, which was filmed and produced by Computer Network Information Center of CAS.

Mr. Wu Jichuan, the former Minister of Ministry of Information Industry (MII) said that Internet is the reasonable outcome of technological progress and the inexorable trend of productivity improvement. Internet drives the improvement of information technology and the development of microelectronic technique, network technique, optical fiber transmission technique, software technology and intellectual technology. This shows that China is marching towards the information society. Mr. Wu stressed that comprehensive laws and regulations are required to guarantee Internet operating in a healthy, high-level and harmony way and therefore Internet can play a much full role in improving social production and management and the public living quality.

Madam. Hu Qiheng, the academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and honorable member of ISC, expressed gratitude to the ones who devoted to driving China’s access to Internet 20 years ago and thanks to the companies and the participants who conduct Internet services and research. Madam. Hu addressed that China’s development and Internet improvement are mutually promoted. China Internet is an important component in global Internet. It is convinced that Internet will further exert irreplaceable effect in the process of realizing Chinese Dream and China Internet communities will continuously make contributions in promoting global Internet prosperity and security.

Mr. Tian Shubin, the President of Xinhuanet, said that by virtue of Internet, mainstream media became the main channel to spread national Internet news and information, the major front to steer network consensus, and the key part in building modern network consensus pattern. In addition, Mr. Tian pointed out that keeping innovation and regulation side by side is an important requirement in forging Internet more civilized and harmony, secure and well-organized, fair and just.

Mr. Yu Yongfu, the CEO of UC Mobile Limited, said that it is lucky for the China Internet participants, because China Internet development was basically synchronized with the global Internet. Different from PC Internet, mobile Internet in Asia started earlier than America and experienced rapid development. It is expected that China’s Internet companies will play a more significant role in global Internet market in a decade years.

Besides, two netizen representatives expressed their understanding on Internet and appreciated the changes brought by Internet. They expected Internet develop in a much healthier and more secure way to provide more convenient services for the public.

On the anniversary ceremony, over 20 participant leaders, experts, business representatives and the ones who drove China Internet development jointly made the hand print to commemorate the 20th anniversary. The hand print will be exhibited in China Internet Museum. Also, the unveiling ceremony of special stamp—E-life was launched. Exclusively designed, this set of stamp includes four themes, that is, Information Exchange, E-Commerce, Mobile Internet and Cloud Computing.

Mr. Lu Wei, the General Secretary of ISC presided over the event.