Jeffrey Bernstein, managing director of the Penn Wharton China Center, believes the Second World Internet Conference shows China is already on the cutting edge in finding creative ways to use the Internet with the country's leading thinkers in the industry.

Jeffrey Bernstein, managing director of the Penn Wharton China Center. [Photo/by Chen Yingqun/chinadaily.com.cn

"China is now on the cutting edge in finding creative ways to use the Internet and technology to change the way we live, online and offline," he said.

The Second World Internet Conference, the most high-profile Internet related event in China, is taking place in the picturesque water town of Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, Dec 16 to 18.

"Listening to the leading thinkers from China, like Robin Li, Ma Huateng, and Lei Jun, I have a better sense of how technology will impact China and the entire world,” Bernstein said.

China has witnessed a rapid development of its Internet industry over the past two decades. The Internet has profoundly affected almost every facet of Chinese people's lives including communication, transportation, and entertainment.

The thriving Internet industry and the gigantic market potential have also bred countless Internet companies, and some of them, such as Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba, have become international goliaths.