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Executives share views on China's Web future: Zhou Hongyi

China Daily Updated: 2015-12-17

Editor's note: The Second World Internet Conference, also known as the Wuzhen Summit, is taking place in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province. China Daily reporters interviewed Zhou Hongyi, Chairman of Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd, to learn his views.

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Q: What role is the Internet likely to play in China's next Five-Year Plan (2016-20) during the economy's new normal phase of slower, more sustained growth?

From the PC era to the mobile Internet era, the Chinese cyber industry has entered an age of the Internet of Things in which the Web connects everything.

China is standing on the same line as the United States and other developed nations in the industry and has a chance to surpass the West as the world talks about Internet 3.0.

Q: China aims to become a world leader in Internet technology. In what spheres do you think the country is particularly well placed to achieve this goal? What skills that China excels in do you think could be exploited to this end? What is the biggest hurdle that stands in the way of China achieving its goal?

A: I think innovation will be the biggest opportunity, and, in the meantime, a huge challenge for the Chinese Internet industry. Our mainstream values do not go well with innovation.

An entrepreneur has to be tolerant of failure because there is high chance for an innovative idea to fail. Only when the country establishes a culture that tolerates failures will its people attempt things they did not previously dare.

To be innovative, we must allow the existence of new things that are outside of our imagination. However, the Chinese culture worships success and advocates conformity.

These factors are most likely to hinder the growth of Internet-based innovation. I think this will be the biggest challenge. We should give new trends emerging in the industry more space and support instead of containing them with preexisting rules that may not fit.

Q: Which particular industry do you think is going to be "shaken" by the Internet, or which area do you find the most promising to apply the government action plan of Internet Plus?

In the future, I think the Internet will be adopted by every industry and will be transformed by traditional industries as well. It should be an all-industry thing.

Q: In China's Internet sector are there any areas (such as cross-border e-commerce, video or gaming) that you expect to do particularly well in the coming years?

In the age of the Internet of Things, smart-connected hardware will be the next big thing, using technology to change the way people live and solve problems the public faces. Qihoo 360 has started to make steps in the smart devices market. We have produced smart security cameras, smart watches for kids and driving recorders to help tackle safety problems at home and on the road.

In addition, we have developed environmental safety and information security products. These are the key focus for Qihoo 360.

Q: If you were to give an Internet startup just one piece of advice, what would it be?

For a startup, the standard for success is not the amount of financing. A successful company should keep making products that meet customers' requirements.


ORGANIZED BY
Cyberspace Administration of China
People's Government of Zhejiang Province
CO-ORGANIZED BY
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
International Telecommunication Union
World Intellectual Property Organization
GSMA
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Cyberspace Administration of Zhejiang Province
Economy and Information Technology Department of Zhejiang Province
Tongxiang Municipal People's Government
National Internet Emergency Center
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