President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Second World Internet Conference held in the water town of Wuzhen, East China's Zhejiang province, Dec 16, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Business leaders, officials, and researchers responded to President Xi Jinping's speech during the World Internet Conference on Wednesday.

HP executive impressed by Xi's willingness to develop the web

Wing Kin Cheung

"What impressed me most is that President Xi Jinping came out to set the stage to promote the development of the Internet in China. He really emphasized the cross-border collaboration while at the same time respecting local cultures and differences," said Wing Kin Cheung, global vice president of Hewlett-Packard Co.

"We want to better serve the public sector and government as well as common citizens in China", said Cheung.

Xi's speech inspiring: Maldives offical

Mohamed Ashmalee

Mohamed Ashmalee, State Minister of Finance and Treasury of Maldives, on Thursday shares his thought on President Xi Jinping's speech addressed at the opening of the Second World Internet Conference.

President Xi's speech is quite inspiring. First of all, he talked about cyber collaboration, coordination, unity and cybersecurity. Maldives and China can work closely on these aspects.

Also, I think every country is unique and different in its own way so it is natural for every country to have some reservations. But still, we have to come to a consensus for global development.

This is the most important way for global integration. Besides, I think the Silk Road initiative can provide the largest potential for China-Maldives collaboration. It offers a platform to share resources.

Xi's speech reaffirms China's embrace of technologies as driver for growth: UK expert

President Xi Jinping's speech at the World Internet Conference reaffirmed China's priorities for the transition to the second speed framework of economic growth and the embrace of modern technologies as a driver for the future economic growth of China, said Christopher Bovis, professor of European and International Business Law at University of Hull Business School in the UK.

The Internet and information and communications technology (ICT) will play a major role in transitioning the old and traditional economy in China into a modern base of growth, said Bovis.

According to Bovis, the World Internet Conference is important in its objective to bring the themes for regulation of the Internet and the application of ICTs in contemporary markets and sectors. As such, the Conference represents a forum where Chinese policy makers could gauge the requirements for transnational regulation and control of the Internet and all aspects arising in the respective application of ICTs into individual sectors.

It is also important for being the platform to establish common themes emanating from the Internet such as data protection, encryption and data ownership, social media, freedom of information, communications surveillance, national security and combating crime, cyber crime and terrorism, said Bovis.