China’s leader Xi Jinping has called for a sweeping reinforcement of the country’s cyberspace governance system, framing it as essential to national security, social stability, and China’s long-term digital ambitions.
Speaking at a Politburo study session focused on cyberspace governance, Xi said the country must strengthen long-term mechanisms that guide how China manages and regulates the online domain. He urged officials to improve their foresight and coordination in shaping what he described as a cleaner and healthier digital environment.
Xi highlighted that since 2012 the Party has placed growing emphasis on managing the online sphere—promoting mainstream values, confronting harmful content, and curbing what authorities deem unhealthy online behavior. These efforts, he said, have helped create a more positive online ecosystem and provided governing lessons the Party must continue to uphold, including strict adherence to Party leadership and rule-of-law principles.
Underscoring cyberspace as a pillar of national governance, Xi called for a unified regulatory framework under the central leadership. He urged local governments and Party committees to take greater responsibility for managing online discourse and tackling emerging problems swiftly, while guiding platforms, media creators, and multi-channel networks to promote what he called “positive energy.”
Xi stressed that shaping a constructive digital environment requires amplifying positive voices and mainstream values. He encouraged deeper online communication of Party ideology, the promotion of core socialist values, and the production of more compelling, high-quality digital content. Mainstream media, he added, should lead by example in setting the tone for online culture.
Calling cyberspace governance a “systematic project,” Xi said authorities must combine educational, administrative, and legal tools to strengthen digital order. He urged tighter mechanisms for online moral education, stronger alignment between oversight and industry self-regulation, and coordinated progress in legislation, enforcement, and public legal awareness. Xi also demanded firm action against harmful content and the networks that support it.
With emerging technologies such as AI and big data reshaping the digital landscape, Xi said China must both manage new risks and harness new technological opportunities. He called for advances in internet technologies, improved application of tech innovations, and stronger data and cybersecurity safeguards. Internationally, Xi said China will work to shape global cyber rules, combat online crime, and expand its international communication capabilities to project a more credible and appealing image abroad.
Source: Xinhua
