Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday called for a people-centered approach to Internet development and stronger international cooperation to jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit in east China's Zhejiang Province, Li said the Internet is undergoing an intelligent transformation and a systemic leap as it converges at an accelerating pace with with technologies such as AI, cloud computing and blockchain.

He said the Internet is not merely infrastructure, but also shaping new ways of life, driving industrial transformation and fostering intelligent generation.

Li stressed that AI and the Internet should extend human capabilities and serve as means of liberation, not replace people. Human agency must remain paramount and the ultimate purpose must be to promote people's all-round development, he said.

He also highlighted the need to tackle the ethical implications of algorithms and models, the security risks arising from digital-physical integration, and the digital and AI divide, noting that over two billion people worldwide remain offline. 

To address these challenges, Li put forward four proposals: 

1. Open innovation. Bolster scientific and technological innovation, encourage open source, strengthen collaborative research, and support the large-scale application of new tech and products. Li said China will continue to promote technology transfer and knowledge sharing to build an open, inclusive and dynamic global ecosystem for digital innovation.

2. Digital security. Ensure credibility and controllability to strengthen digital security safeguards. Li urged countries to promote common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and step up practical cooperation. China will respect the legitimate cybersecurity concerns of all countries, he said, while opposing the overstretching of the concept of national security and the erection of "digital iron curtains."

3. Inclusive development. Pursue universally beneficial and balanced development to share digital dividends. Li said China will actively implement the Global Development Initiative and support Global South countries in building digital infrastructure, cultivating talent and enhancing capacity.

4. Multilateral governance. Advance open dialogue to improve the multilateral governance system. Li called for strengthening coordination and cooperation rather than deliberately escalating friction, practicing true multilateralism, maximizing common interests and promoting more just and equitable global Internet governance. China will actively build dialogue platforms based on the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, and contribute more Chinese wisdom to improving cyberspace governance, he said.

Li noted that in an increasingly interconnected world, no country can prosper alone. China will work with the international community to ensure that digital and intelligent technologies better serve global development and the well-being of all humanity, he said.