Countries have the right to independently choose their own digital and AI technology paths and should not be coerced into taking sides, China said on Wednesday.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a routine press briefing in Beijing in response to a question about further details on a position paper on global governance of cyberspace submitted by China to the first meeting of the United Nations' new Global Mechanism on ICTs.

Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

"The paper advocates respecting the digital sovereignty of all countries," Lin said . "Each country has the right to independently choose its own development path for digital and intelligent technologies including AI in line with its national conditions, and the right to independently choose AI technologies, products and services without being coerced into taking sides."

"This marks another important principle put forward by China on global cyber governance, following the concept of cyber sovereignty."

(Compiled by intern Xia Lehan)