Peking University, October 14, 2021: The 2021 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, was held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province from 26-28 September 2021.The “Wuzhen Talk: Social Responsibility of Internet Entreprises” sub-forum, co-sponsored by the Cyberspace Administration of China and Peking University, kicked off on the morning of the 27th of September, deep-diving into the theme of promoting the healthy and orderly development of the Internet industry”.
Distinguished guests included Sheng Ronghua, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, Wang Bo, vice president of Peking University, as well as Chen Gang, secretary of the Party Committee of the Peking University’s School of Journalism and Communication. Other guests include key representatives from leading Internet companies such as Tencent, Alibaba, ByteDance, Pinduoduo, Baidu, Kuaishou, and Sina Corporation.
Corporate social responsibility has become a topic of increasing importance, with Internet companies having to undertake greater social responsibility so as to build a better society as we move into a new era of digital civilization. Hence, through the invitation of officials from relevant government departments, as well as experts, scholars and representatives from key Internet enterprises, the forum sought to explore how Internet enterprises can strengthen cyberspace governance, foster a healthy environment for the growth and development of minors, and combat the network effect of chaos so as to greater fulfill their key duties and social responsibilities, hence creating a clean and positive cyberspace for all Internet users.
In his keynote speech, Sheng Ronghua put key suggestions to Internet enterprises.He emphasized that Internet enterprises should place importance on social benefits and social responsibility, so as to achieve greater social and economic benefits. In addition, he urged Internet enterprises to strengthen their self-discipline and self-management, stressing that these features were important guarantees for the healthy and sustainable development of the Internet industry.
Wang Bo’s Keynote Speech
Wang Bo also delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He shared a quote from President Xi Jinping, in which he emphasized that whether it can adapt to and lead the development of the Internet has become a key to the rise and fall of a great country. Wang also stressed that a great enterprise does not depend entirely on scale or profit, but more fundamentally, is dependent on values and morality. He shares his belief that the connections, cooperation, and innovation embodied by the Internet represents the spirit of this new era, and expressed Peking University’s continued role in innovating comprehensive advantage across various disciplines, exploring the potential of cooperation with Internet companies, deepening cooperation on basic, innovative and interdisciplinary topics, and helping in the promotion of the national informatization development strategy and the "Internet plus" action plan.
Dialogue Session
Lastly, the forum conducted a dialogue and exchange session, chaired and moderated by Chen Gang. Chen Gang shared that responsibility and values remain eternal topics in the corporate world, with the newfound emphasis on social responsibility a result of the internet no longer being a new phenomenon, but finding its place as the foundation of social development. As Internet enterprises develop, flourish, and continue to expand, it is essential that they bear greater responsibilities for their users, industry, and society as a whole. The sub-forum concluded with a collective agreement that Internet enterprises should adhere to a healthy value orientation, meet societal expectations, as well as behave uprightly and act in good faith.
Written by: Meg Wee Siow Mun
Edited by: June Tan Rui Min
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
