 Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished colleagues, dear friends, it gives me great pleasure to contribute to Safer Internet Day 2013, which this year highlights the importance of online rights and responsibilities in building a safer online environment for our children. Today, information and communication technologies, ICTs, are the drivers of the social and economic progress. Even in times of financial crisis, the ICT sector has flourished, and some companies have become the leading generators of wealth and business opportunities. The ICT sector is opening up new frontiers, and the mobile revolution has shown phenomenal growth. With new business opportunities, new opportunities have arrived for young people to shine with their inherent creativity, innovation and dynamism. At the same time, the dramatic changes associated with the spread of ICTs also brings new risks and threats to safety and security, especially for children who are among the most vulnerable members of our societies. The China Online Protection Initiative COP, in line with ITU's global cybersecurity agenda, is aiming at building an international security framework for children and young people. COP provides an excellent platform where, by collectively working together, we can ensure a harmonized and comprehensive approach and share best practices related to the online protection of children. It is my personal commitment to work closely with our member states in order to ensure that the implementation of national strategies and policies will foster the online rights and responsibilities of stakeholders, and above all, will address interests and challenges of children and youth. Dear friends, under the patronage of President Laura Chintia of Costa Rica, I am pleased to announce that in September 2013, ITU will be organizing the Global Youth Summit, which will provide a global platform to bring youth together to join forces and create solutions for social good enabled through widespread access to ICTs. This will be a unique occasion for youth to advocate their online rights and demonstrate how ICTs are empowering them to fulfill their own dreams and careers. I urge everyone, including leaders, experts, private companies, civil society, and educators to help us by joining ITU's Child Online Protection Initiative in making cyberspace peaceful in order to protect our future and that of our children. And I applaud each and every one of you for your contributions to Safer Internet Day 2013. Thank you.