Rising internet influence

The outline for a national internet strategy, issued in July last year, also drew up a road map to build China into an internet power, including raising its power of discourse concerning the global governance system for the internet.

China had 731 million internet users by the end of last year, equivalent to Europe's total population, and such an enormous number of internet users means China's views on cyberspace cannot be ignored.

Aside from being the catalyst for the world's largest e-commerce market, the internet has also developed into an important vehicle for innovative economic and commercial models. The closer integration of China's internet industry with the global market, which can be expected with the advancement of the government's Internet Plus strategy, will more forcibly drive the world's economic growth.