De Villepin: France, China share common interests in cyberspace

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France and China have common interests in cyberspace and should enhance cooperation in the area, former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin told CGTN on Monday on the sidelines of the4th World Internet Conference (WIC), which opened Sunday in east China's water town, Wuzhen, in Zhejiang Province.

De Villepin, who served as the prime minister of France from 2005 to 2007, hailed China's achievements in the digital economy and called on the two countries to work together to lead a more equitable Internet governance.

"China is among the main players of the Internet today," he said. "We can see it with Alibaba, JD.com, Baidu and Tencent."

Ran Chengqi, an official at Beidou Navigation Satellite System, speaks during the release ceremony for world leading Internet scientific and technological achievements in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, December 3, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, France and China should make joint efforts to protect cyberspace and fight cybercrime, he stressed.

"We must also take into account the citizens' security, protect their private life, and protect the individual database of each citizen," de Villepin said, adding that the cooperation in cyberspace is an important part of France-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Scheduled from Sunday to Tuesday, the 4th WIC is under the theme of "Developing Digital Economy for Openness and Shared Benefits – Building a Community of Common Future in Cyberspace." It draws more than 1,500 guests from over 80 countries and regions.

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