Sailing on the Digital Tide, Linking the Globe: Unveiling New Opportunities in Cross-border E-commerce

Recently, the Symposium on International Cross-border E-Commerce themed by "Powering Cross-border E-Commerce, Digitizing Global Markets" was held in Shenzhen City. Hosted by the World Internet Conference and organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Commercial Industry Committee, the event gathered approximately 200 participants. Attendees included representatives from international organizations, foreign embassies and consulates in China, WIC member units, experts from the WIC Cross-border E-commerce Working Group, case-selected institutions, various segments of the cross-border e-commerce industry chain, and media organizations.

The symposium not only showcased the latest achievements in global cross-border e-commerce in areas such as model innovation, technological integration, and rule-making but also reached four key consensuses on its future development. These are: firstly, establishing a multilateral consultation platform to deepen global collaboration, promote the refinement of international rules and standards, and reduce compliance costs; secondly, deepening the innovative application of digital and intelligent technologies throughout the industrial chain, facilitating technology sharing and resource integration to foster a mutually beneficial ecosystem of complementary strengths; thirdly, creating an open and shared dialogue platform to showcase best practices and promote experience exchange and mutual learning; and fourthly, strengthening risk management, establishing risk identification and compliance systems, enhancing data security protection, and strengthening the bottom line of security.

Photo from the Symposium

During the symposium, the World Internet Conference Collection of Cross-Border E-Commerce Practice Cases(2025)  was also released, which features innovative practice cases from numerous global organizations, offering a wealth of vivid examples and practical cases that provide replicable experiences for the industry.

Currently, the development of cross-border e-commerce faces challenges such as imbalanced digital infrastructure across countries and regions, differing national policies, and gaps in the regulation of artificial intelligence technologies. These challenges are accompanied by increasing pressures from compliance costs, operational risks, and the protection of consumer rights. This symposium, which featured in-depth discussions on international rules for cross-border e-commerce, achievements in digital technology application, and ecosystem co-construction, is conducive to leveraging the WIC's strengths as an international organization, promoting international industry cooperation and exchanges, and advancing the inclusive and sustainable development of the cross-border e-commerce sector.

Digital and intelligent technologies, represented by AI, are opening up new avenues for cross-border e-commerce. No longer merely an online transaction channel, cross-border e-commerce has evolved into a smart and interconnected business ecosystem. The symposium provided intellectual support for actively embracing AI technologies, vigorously promoting the digital upgrading of cross-border e-commerce, and fostering new competitive advantages.

Discussions among the participants revealed that cross-border e-commerce is no longer a simple online migration of traditional foreign trade. Instead, through the reconfiguration of data as a crucial factor of production, it is giving rise to new business models, service formats, and consumer markets. On one hand, cross-border e-commerce is driving supply chains towards greater flexibility and customization, while also spurring the growth of producer services such as digital payments and smart logistics. Leveraging these advancements for the benefit of all requires collective wisdom and concerted efforts. On the other hand, in today's interconnected world, there is a need for clear answers on how e-commerce can empower the global trade landscape and contribute to inclusive growth of the global economy.

This symposium has offered fresh perspectives for the development of global cross-border e-commerce. Only by continuously focusing on innovation, deepening the integration of digital technologies with the entire trade chain, and collectively improving global digital trade rules. Only in this way can we better promote the steady development of cross-border e-commerce and connect to the world deeply.