Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui has officially announced Beijing’s intention to strengthen strategic cooperation with Moscow in cybersecurity. This announcement represents a significant expansion of the partnership between the two nations as they seek to counter what they describe as Western digital hegemony while simultaneously developing a shared framework for cyber governance.
Ambassador Zhang emphasized China’s commitment to establishing a “multilateral, democratic, and transparent global internet governance system.” In a recent article published by Sputnik News, he stated that, “While continuously enhancing its own governance of cyberspace, China will actively work to deepen cooperation in cybersecurity with countries around the world, including Russia.” The strengthened ties focus on addressing shared challenges in cybersecurity, reflecting the robust strategic relationship that has developed between the two countries over recent years.
The cybersecurity cooperation builds on earlier commitments to collaborate in artificial intelligence technologies, an area both nations have shown keen interest in. Plans to incorporate elements from China’s 2017 International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace are underway, which includes critical information infrastructure protection and cyber threat mitigation strategies. Specific technical aspects of this cooperation are expected to comprise joint protocols for Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) detection, cross-border cyber threat intelligence sharing, and coordinated incident response mechanisms.
Moreover, the partnership highlights China’s strategy to assist developing countries with cybersecurity capacity building, including technology transfer and critical information infrastructure protection. This aligns with Russia’s interest in bolstering its digital capabilities amidst ongoing Western sanctions. Ambassador Zhang also pointed out that cybersecurity issues should not become a battleground for great power competition, but a space for cooperation. This perspective marks a united front between the two nations on global cybersecurity challenges, underscoring their commitment to maintaining international order in cyberspace.