Continuing to Amplify the Strong Momentum of Digital Trade

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council recently issued the 'Opinions on Implementing the Strategy for Enhancing Free Trade Zones,' which includes digital trade as part of the FTZ trade policy system, outlining a series of specific measures for digital trade. In the integration of new-generation information technology with international trade, digital trade has flourished, not only innovating business models but also greatly improving trade efficiency and reducing trade costs. Against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty, it provides new momentum for the recovery of international trade.

In recent years, China has attached great importance to and promoted the development of digital trade. Data shows that in 2024, China's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached 2.63 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.8%, becoming the main driver of foreign trade growth. Thanks to advancements in digital technology research and application, expansion of the digital economy's scale and use cases, continuous improvement of digital infrastructure, and efforts in promoting institutional openness, China's business environment for digital trade continues to improve. China's digital trade has gained strong momentum, with booming digital technology trade in big data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, 5G, satellite navigation, digital content trade such as digital entertainment and e-books, as well as cross-border e-commerce and digital service outsourcing.

National digital service export bases and cross-border e-commerce clusters have played a leading role in demonstrating success. For instance, the Qianhai Cross-Border E-commerce Cluster in Shenzhen has attracted over 150,000 cross-border e-commerce export enterprises, with the region's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports exceeding 120 billion yuan in 2024, a significant increase of over 100%.

Digital trade has become a major form reflecting new momentum and advantages in trade competition among countries. The construction of a global digital trade rule system and the mastery of digital trade discourse power have become the focus of international attention. From the current stage of international economic and trade development, promoting high-quality development of digital trade, expanding development momentum, and enhancing international discourse power are crucial ways to strengthen the international competitiveness of digital trade and achieve the goal of becoming a trade power.

Vigorously develop digital infrastructure, accelerate the layout of big data, cloud computing, 5G, artificial intelligence, and other infrastructure. Build platforms for digital trade development, use blockchain technology to create digital trade service platforms, strengthen the development of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive service platforms, and promote the integrated development of B2B and B2C cross-border e-commerce. Utilize events like the China International Import Expo, the Digital Trade Conference, and the Service Trade Fair to precisely connect international supply and demand, expanding the space for digital trade.

Innovate the talent training models and mechanisms for digital trade, promote the development of digital trade specialties, and facilitate the integration of digital technologies with higher education, providing sustained talent support and reserves for the development of digital trade.

Focus on cultivating leading digital trade enterprises in areas such as cross-border e-commerce, intellectual property services, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, cultural creativity, and cloud computing. Support the development of digital research and development and digital trade brand enterprises, and strive to create digital trade enterprises that integrate industry chains, supply chains, innovation chains, talent chains, and capital chains, forming a demonstration effect.

Innovate investment and financing mechanisms in the digital trade industry, expand financing channels for small and medium-sized digital enterprises, cross-border e-commerce enterprises, and digital service trade enterprises, encourage social capital to invest in the digital trade industry, effectively reduce costs for digital trade enterprises, and enhance the activity of small and medium-sized digital trade enterprises.

Align with international high-standard digital trade rules, promote institutional openness, and build a regulatory system for digital trade that balances national interests and international rules. Strengthen legislation in areas such as personal privacy protection, intellectual property protection, service review, and digital transactions within the digital trade field, and improve laws and regulations for cross-border e-commerce.

Increase the transparency of cross-border e-commerce policies and create a market-oriented, rule-of-law, and internationalized top-tier business environment. Integrate resources from customs, commerce, science and technology, internet management, and other departments to innovate and build a digital trade supervision system, promoting the facilitation and liberalization of digital trade.

Actively expand digital trade overseas markets, consolidating markets in developed countries while expanding emerging markets through the construction of the Digital 'Belt and Road.' While ensuring national security, actively participate in the formulation of multilateral digital trade rules in organizations like the WTO, G20, and APEC, implement and deepen the digital trade aspects of RCEP, advance the process of joining the CPTPP and DEPA, and promote international exchanges on digital certificates, electronic signatures, electronic certification, and cross-border e-commerce return policies.

Relying on mechanisms such as BRICS cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China-Africa cooperation, and China-Arab cooperation, lead global Southern countries in establishing an international rule system that safeguards the interests of digital trade development, enhancing the international discourse power of developing countries in the digital trade and digital economy fields.