BEIJING - China and the United Nations (UN) will hold an international symposium on information and network security in Beijing on Thursday and Friday, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Tuesday.

It will be the first international conference held by China and the UN on network issues and it is a move by China to promote international cyber security, Hong said at a regular news briefing.

With the theme of building a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace, the meeting will discuss matters including rule making, Internet governance, the role of the UN, regional cooperation and capacity building.

Representatives from more than 20 nations and international organizations will participate, according to Hong. Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong will attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote speech on China's stance and practice on cyber security.

China has been a vindicator and builder of cyber security and has always advocated international cooperation on the issue, said Hong, calling for an early start on international rule making.

In 2011, China made a proposal to the UN about an international code of conduct on information security. That has laid the foundation for discussion, the spokesman said.

He added that China hopes the symposium will help enhance policy communication on cyber security, increase mutual trust, and push forward the international rule making process as well as network governance, so as to contribute to realizing a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace.