On December 3rd -5th , 2017, the 4th World Internet Conference (‘Wuzhen Summit’) was held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter, stressing that the Internet development achievements should better benefit the people of the world and work together to build a network. Space destiny community. Wang Huning, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of China, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

The conference focused on the theme of “Developing the Digital Economy to Promote Openness and Sharing – Joining Hands to Build a Community of Cyberspace Destiny”, and set up 20 sub-forums. Wuhan University and the Institute of Modern International Relations and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences jointly held the "International Rules for Cyberspace: Consensus and Prospects" forum on the afternoon of December 4. Wang Meichao, deputy director of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Central Network Office, and Peter Megier, vice chairman of the United Nations Development Commission for Science and Technology, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony of the forum and fully affirmed the significance of the forum. Bruce McConnell, Senior Vice President of the East and West Institute of the United States, James Lewis, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Neil Walsh, Head of the Global Cyber Crime Project of UNODC, and other authoritative experts in the field Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Central Network Office attended the forum and delivered speeches.

Professor Huang Zhixiong, deputy director of the Institute of International Law of Wuhan University and the special rapporteur of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization Working Group on Cyberspace International Law, made a speech on the formulation of the International Rules for Asian and African Countries and Cyberspace, pointing out most Asian and African countries are in the ‘third world’ in the formulation of international rules for cyberspace due to their backwardness in network technology, resource control, and voice. In view of the interconnectedness of cyberspace and the unprecedented interdependence of countries, countries should working together to provide these countries with more opportunities and resources to participate in the development of international rules for cyberspace is a requirement for countries to effectively maintain common security, achieve common progress, and promote the building of a community of cyberspace destiny. Professor Huang Zhixiong’ s speech caused a good response among the participants. A number of speakers affirmed his relevant views in the subsequent speeches. The forum was successfully concluded after three and a half hours of heated discussions.

It is reported that ‘International Rules for Cyberspace: Consensus and Prospects’ is the first forum established by the World Internet Conference. This is the first time that Wuhan University has participated in this sub-forum. In recent years, cyberspace has accelerated the ‘establishment of rules and regulations’. International rules play an increasingly important role in maintaining the security and stability of cyberspace, and have increasingly become a focus of the international game of cyberspace. Relevant scholars of our school have actively offered advice and suggestions to relevant departments and promoted the establishment of this forum. In September 2017, the Central Network Information Office sent a letter to our school and invited our school to become a forum co-organizer. School leaders attach great importance to this, and the departments and units such as the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Institute, the Law School, and the Institute of International Law actively cooperate to support the preliminary preparation and organization of the conference. The successful completion of this forum has further expanded our domestic and international influence in the field of cyberspace governance.