5G network security not a political issue: FM spokesman

Security officials and experts from more than 30 countries gathered in Prague last week and issued on Friday a set of proposals for 5G network deployment guidelines.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Political factors shouldn t be involved in the development and cooperation of 5G network, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday in Beijing.

Security officials and experts from more than 30 countries gathered in Prague last week and issued on Friday a set of proposals for 5G network deployment guidelines.

Commenting on the gathering, Geng Shuang, the spokesman, said at a regular press briefing that the 5G network is a kind of frontier and guiding technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, closely bonding up with the global economic development, the interests of all countries and the progress of human civilization. Therefore, those attempts to introduce political factors in the technology s development undermines its future.

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"In the era of globalization, the development and utilization of 5G depends on the exchanges and cooperation among countries all over the world, and it is bound to be an innovation of the international community. The attempts to introduce political factors into 5G development, utilization and cooperation, politicize the related issues or adopt discriminatory practices are not only detrimental to the development of 5G, but also run counter to the principle of fair competition and go against the common interests of the international community," Geng said.

He added that only a few countries attended the Prague 5G Security Conference and the so called "Prague Proposals" only represented their opinion, rather than the whole world.

"In the making of relevant rules and standards for 5G development, the opinions from the stakeholders should have been widely listened to and adopted. We should discuss the issue through open and inclusive multilateral process under a representative and authoritative mechanism, in order to create a non-discriminatory environment of competition for the companies from all countries, embody equity and justice and pursue mutual benefit and win-win results," he said.

The spokesman also said that China will continue to uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and strengthen scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with other countries, including 5G.

The country will also grasp the development opportunities brought by the new round of scientific and technological revolution, so as to make positive contributions to the well-being of mankind.