China, ROK eye more Internet cooperation

BEIJING - The first Internet round-table between China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) kicked off in Beijing on Wednesday.

Representatives from both countries will discuss the Internet economy, network infrastructure construction and cybercrime at the two-day conference.

The conference came as China and ROK celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Wang Chen, director of the State Internet Information Office of the State Council, or China's Cabinet, said in his keynote speech, "China and the ROK share broad common interests in Internet cooperation, and boosting cooperation is of great importance to the Internet development of the two countries, Asia and even the world."

He also gave suggestions on future cooperation, including Internet industry exchanges between the two countries and government coordination on how the Internet is governed.

In a speech, Kim Dae-hee, commissioner of the ROK's Internet watchdog, the Korea Communications Commission, expressed his hope that China and the ROK could take the conference as an opportunity to promote healthy Internet development.

The conference marks a new Internet exchange platform, following the Sino-U.S., Sino-Britain and China-Emerging Countries Internet round-table conferences.