Xiang Zhaolun, vice-minister of the Ministry of Culture of China delivers a speech at the forum in Wuzhen in Zhejiang province, Nov 17, 2016. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Hosted by China's Ministry of Culture, and organized by China Daily Website and the China Arts and Entertainment Group, the 3rd World Internet Conference (WIC) Internet Culture Forum was held in the Wuzhen Internet International Conference and Exhibition Center on November 17.

Based on the theme of "Mutual-learning among Civilizations and Development of the Internet Culture", the forum brings 18 best minds from officials, entrepreneurs, scholar to researchers and writers together to have in-depth discussions on the cultural development in the age of internet.

The forum consists of three parts with an opening at the beginning. Two panel discussions titled "Enhancing People-to-People Exchanges, Promoting Mutual Learning Among Civilizations" and "Pushing for Better Cyberculture" were conducted subsequently.

Speeches and seminars were organized for in-depth communication and debate among all participants to advance China’s internet innovation and boost global cultural exchanges.

Xiang Zhaolun, vice-minister of the Ministry of Culture, delivered the keynote speech at the forum. Xiang said the WIC had already become an annual grand meeting in the circle of the internet worldwide. As an integral part of the WIC, the Internet Culture Forum aims to strengthen cyber cooperation and promote cultural exchanges.

"China's Ministry of Culture has attached great importance to the forum by making elaborate preparations in advance. Also, we, together with other Chinese and foreign guests, are looking forward to building the forum into a qualified and high-level platform," Xiang suggested.

Vasilij Chernik, vice minister of the Republic of Belarus' Ministry of Culture, added that the running of the forum is of great practical significance to the modern society and would strengthen the Sino-Belarus bilateral relationship.

Over the past 20 years, China's internet development has made great strides, with achievements attracting worldwide attention. The internet, as a key achievement in human civilization, has become an important force in driving innovation, promoting economic and social progress and benefiting all human beings.