Int'l co-op for network security

Network space is now regarded as the "fifth space" after land, sea, sky and space. The world is also suffering from network attacks while enjoying the convenience of its fast development. Network security has become a severe challenge for the world today.

Take China as an example. A survey last year indicates there are nearly 47,000 IP addresses abroad controlled almost 8.9 million computers in China as trojan or corpse servers and there are nearly 12,000 IP addresses exerting long-range control of more than 10,000 websites in China through "back door implantation". The network security issue can only be resolved according to the following principles. First, sovereignty in network space of all countries should be respected. This is a new development of the principle of international law of "respecting sovereignty". Second, network space should be used peacefully to avoid an arms race on the network. Third, order should be maintained in network space according to relevant laws. Many countries have drawn up policies, rules and laws to improve network governance.

The openness and international nature of the network determines that network security is a global challenge, which cannot be tackled with one single country's power and must be solved through international cooperation.

In addition, there are ways we can construct a harmo-nious network space for the world.

First, the rules for the network space should be made by all countries. So far, there are no unified international rules for the network space that can be accepted by all countries, which restricts the healthy development and effective man-agement of the network.

China, Russia and others proposed a draft "International Code of Conduct for Information Security" to the United Nations last September to start an open, progressive and inclusive discussion process. According to the draft, all parties should cooperate closely with each other in drawing up network space rules on the basis of equality, mutual respect and assistance. The UN should play a role as the main channel for communications to collect opinions from all sides to ensure parties concerns are equally taken into account. Second, all parties should deepen their cooperation in attacking crimes on the network. It is a pressing and common problem for us to fight against growing transnational crimes on the network.

There is an international consensus to start judicial and law enforcement cooperation as well as information exchange on network security. The international community should set up and improve its legal system on network security as soon as possible and clarify the obligations and responsibilities of related parties in fighting crime and terrorism on the network. Bilateral judicial assistance agreements should be signed to strengthen coordination in investigations and form a mechanism for international cooperation in fighting crime on the network.

Third, the development of network protection technologies should be accelerated. Network security cannot be tackled without advanced network protection technologies. New types of network attacks constantly emerge, increasing the need to improve the protection of the international network. We should focus more on manpower, intelligence and financial resources to speed up the de-velopment of network security technologies related to cryptographic authentication and technologies to protect the network from viruses and invasions.

Last but not least, the dialogue mechanism on network security should be improved. Network space is interrelated. But it belongs to difference sovereignties as well. So it is necessary to strengthen the dialogue mechanism among different nations to maintain network security. The "China-US Internet Forum" and the "China-UK Round Table Conference on the Internet" and the other similar activities all play a positive role in promoting mutual understanding and common development. All countries should continue to strengthen dialogues among governments, enterprises and academic institutions to strengthen exchanges and mutual trust on network security issues.

We are increasingly networked with one another in the world. We should make more joint efforts to construct a harmonious network world just as we are building a harmonious world in real life.