Li Qiang's keynote speech at the 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit: Building a community with a shared future in cyberspace

Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit

It gives me great pleasure to join old and new friends in the beautiful water towns of Jiangnan for the 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese government, I extend a sincere welcome to all the distinguished guests present! I also wish to express my heartfelt thanks to you all for your long-standing care and support for the development of China's internet and information technology endeavors!

The World Internet Conference has been held for 13 consecutive years. Looking back more than a decade ago, 4G was just being rolled out, "the cloud" was still waiting for "the wind" to come, and artificial intelligence had yet to emerge from the laboratory. Today, new technologies dazzle the eye, the internet has undergone earth-shaking changes, and the Internet of Everything and intelligent connectivity have entered millions of households and empowered thousands of industries. But we should recognize even more clearly that although technology advances by leaps and bounds, one major proposition of universal concern has never changed, and that is how to make the internet better benefit humanity.

As early as the 2015 World Internet Conference, President Xi Jinping put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace, offering a Chinese solution to the issues of internet development and governance. Over the years, China has consistently worked closely with the international community to promote innovative development and effective governance of the internet. Today, the internet has become deeply integrated into people's work and life, and what was once a "technological increment" has become a "constant of the era."

As technology continues to break through and the world becomes increasingly integrated, this constant is gradually becoming a "historical variable" affecting the development of human society, which requires us to understand and grasp it from a more forward-looking and broader perspective. Taking this opportunity, I would like to share three observations with you. First, internet development is undergoing an intelligent transformation and a systemic leap

At present, the internet is accelerating its integration with artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain and other technologies and moving toward the intelligent internet, exerting a broader and more profound impact on economic and social development.

First, the internet is not only a kind of infrastructure, but also a whole new way of life. After years of development, the internet has become ubiquitous, ever-present and all-encompassing, used by people every day without being noticed. In this thousand-year-old town where we are now, internet elements are integrated in every aspect, and cloud connectivity, cyber dwelling and smart living have become part of daily life. Smart connected vehicles, service robots, smart glasses and more new terminals are becoming new tentacles of the internet, shaping a whole new way of life and creating infinite possibilities for a better life.

Second, the internet is not only a technological means, but also a driving force for industrial transformation. In recent years, by connecting online and offline, production and consumption, and cities and villages, the internet has driven all industries to significantly improve efficiency and undergo profound changes. With the support of the internet, technology R&D cycles have been greatly shortened, customized and flexible production has flourished, and trade has broken through the limits of time and space and expanded enormously. As the internet integrates and overlaps with various new technologies, and computing, electricity, data and networks become integrated and mutually coordinated, new leaps will be promoted in the forms of industrial organization and modes of production, further unleashing the potential for economic growth.

Third, the internet is not only a carrier of information, but also a force for intelligent generation. Looking back, whether from portal websites to search engines, or from online social networking to mobile connectivity, the internet's role has been that of a carrier and disseminator of knowledge and information. With the access of more and more large models and intelligent agents, the internet is evolving toward intelligent connectivity and human-machine collaboration, and is beginning to possess the ability to learn, decide, execute and evolve on its own. This will further expand the boundaries of thinking, accelerate the emergence of collective intelligence, and provide surging momentum and strong vitality for the progress of human civilization. Second, internet development in today's era needs to give greater prominence to a people-centered value orientation

Driven by artificial intelligence and other new technologies, the internet is evolving at a speed beyond imagination, and its development has reached a crossroads between technology supremacy and people-centeredness. Many people worry that once we slide into the trap of technological omnipotence and the humanistic spirit is overwhelmed by technological logic, innovation will go out of control and astray, people may be swept along, and civilization may be trimmed. We believe that the ultimate purpose of internet development must be to promote the all-round development of people. Our initiative to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace is precisely in the hope that internet-related technologies can enhance people's capabilities, expand people's choices, highlight people's value and improve people's well-being, rather than making people subordinate to technology, still less allowing technology to aggravate the divergence of human development.

Proceeding from this consideration, several issues deserve particular attention.

First, the distinction in the relationship between "humans and machines." Under the conditions of intelligent connectivity of everything, the internet connects humans and machines in depth, the traditional "use and being used" relationship between humans and machines is becoming increasingly blurred, and many activities that only humans could complete in the past are gradually being replaced by machines. Many people now say that "machines are becoming more and more like humans, while humans are becoming more and more like machines." This has given rise to concerns that humans may be manipulated by machines and a sense of crisis about where humanity is headed. In an era of technological explosion, how humans and machines should get along, how to ensure that technology always remains under human control, and how to preserve the spirit and traits that make us human have become new challenges that urgently need to be addressed. The internet and artificial intelligence should be extensions of human capabilities and means of liberating people, rather than comprehensive replacements for people. No matter how powerful the internet is or how "human-like" artificial intelligence becomes, the primacy of humans must be upheld, and machines must always remain trustworthy tools for humanity, helping people achieve higher-quality employment and self-development.

Second is the ethical reflection on "algorithmic models." Although algorithmic models are an important marker of artificial intelligence, they have also penetrated every aspect of the internet. The internet uses algorithmic models to serve people and also subtly influences them; while bringing high efficiency, they also strike at traditional humanistic spirit and human ethics. People often marvel that "algorithms understand you better than you understand yourself." When algorithms prioritize efficiency above all, ordinary workers may become trapped in the system. When big-data price discrimination harms rights and interests, the value principles of fairness and good faith may be undermined. When algorithmic bias amplifies differences, social antagonism may intensify. When information cocoons solidify cognition, diverse knowledge and cultural exchange may be obstructed. Human development practice shows that instrumental rationality and value rationality must not be neglected in favor of either; technology should not only pursue efficiency above all, but should also carry humanistic spirit and remain committed to striving upward and toward the good. The common values of all humanity should be used to solidify the foundation for the development of new technologies, so that new technologies better serve human will, meet human needs, and follow the moral norms of human society.

Third is the security concern of "the integration of data and the real economy." The internet connects all things and links the real and the virtual, providing unprecedented convenience and opportunities for human society while also bringing unprecedented security risks. Once new security risks erupt, their scope is broader, their methods more concealed, and their real-world impact increasingly difficult to predict. Cyberattacks and data theft affect the stable operation of society; model "hallucinations" and data "poisoning" interfere with society's objective cognition; deepfakes and disinformation strike at social trust. Today, as the integration of data and the real economy continues to accelerate, smart grids, smart homes, smart factories, and other applications are spread across various scenarios of production and life, urgently requiring more controllable technological innovation, more rigorous security precautions, and more sufficient coordination and cooperation, so as to better balance development and security and jointly safeguard the peace and tranquility of human society.

Fourth is the fair governance of the "digital-intelligence divide." Technological progress brings new development dividends, but it may also create new inequalities and development gaps. Regions lacking network coverage may become "digital islands," and people with insufficient digital literacy may fall into a "digital predicament." In particular, new technologies such as artificial intelligence have higher development capacity, faster iteration, and a more obvious Matthew effect. At present, more than 2 billion people worldwide still lack internet access. Countries differ greatly in artificial intelligence large models, high-quality datasets, high-performance computing power, high-speed communication networks, and other aspects. If effective measures are not taken, the North-South development imbalance and social wealth polarization may further intensify and may ultimately evolve into a rift of the times. How to ensure that the fruits of technological progress are truly shared by all members of society and that new technologies become public goods benefiting the world is a question of the times concerning the common well-being of all humanity. III. Join Hands to Build a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace

When the world becomes interconnected as one and machines begin to think, the future and destiny of humanity have never been so closely linked. In the face of the prevailing trend of the times—where the new and the old transform, dangers and opportunities coexist, and change and constancy are both present—no country can remain unaffected alone. The international community needs to build consensus, move in the same direction, and join hands to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace with richer connotations.

First, uphold technology empowerment and open up new development space. The rapid development of the internet and artificial intelligence brings major opportunities. We should increase scientific and technological innovation, encourage open source and openness, strengthen joint research, and support the large-scale application of new technologies and new products. China will continue to pursue innovation with an open door, promote technology transfer and knowledge sharing, and work with all countries to build an open, inclusive, and vibrant global digital innovation ecosystem, jointly promote innovative internet development, and inject new momentum into global economic growth.

Second, uphold credibility and controllability and build a strong digital security barrier. The more technological innovation accelerates, the more firmly the reins of security must be held. We should uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, comprehensively strengthen practical cooperation in the digital security field, and prevent technology from spiraling out of control and being abused. At the same time, we must oppose the overstretching of the concept of national security and oppose the building of a "digital iron curtain." China will always respect the reasonable cybersecurity concerns of all countries, work with all countries to tackle security challenges through thick and thin, and jointly build a strong digital security barrier.

Third, uphold inclusiveness and balance and promote the sharing of digital dividends. Bridging the digital-intelligence divide concerns global equitable development and long-term development. We should pay full attention to the demands of all countries, especially Global South countries, promote inclusive development with greater effort, and prevent the emergence of new injustices. China will actively implement the Global Development Initiative, support Global South countries in building digital infrastructure, cultivating digital skills talent, and enhancing digital technology capabilities, so that digital and intelligent dividends benefit the world more effectively.

Fourth, uphold open dialogue and improve the multilateral governance system. Countries have different concepts and paths for cyberspace governance, and it is normal to have differences on some issues. Coordination and cooperation should be strengthened, and friction must not be artificially intensified. We should practice true multilateralism, seek the greatest common divisor, and advance global internet governance in a more just and reasonable direction. China will uphold extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, actively build platforms for dialogue and consultation, and contribute more Chinese wisdom to improving cyberspace governance.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends, the speed of internet development and the changes it has brought are astonishing, and Wuzhen is a vivid microcosm of this tremendous transformation. This thousand-year-old town with its whitewashed walls, dark tiles, small bridges and flowing streams has now become a world stage leading the trend of internet development. Here, historical heritage and the changes of the times surge against each other, humanistic spirit and the power of science and technology shine together, and consensus in thinking and practical action are organically unified. Here, we touch the pulsing heartbeat of frontier technology industries, appreciate the powerful force unleashed by digital and intelligent empowerment, and feel the abundant fruits borne of exchange and cooperation. The same ancient town, yet a different Wuzhen. We look forward to the light of the internet in Wuzhen shining even more brilliantly. Amid the surging tide of digital intelligence, China is willing to work with the international community to make digital and intelligent technologies better serve global development and enhance human well-being.

I wish this year's World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit complete success! Thank you all!

Source: Xinhua News Agency www.smartcity.team

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