From Tianjin's efforts to build a cross-border e-commerce industrial chain and ecosystem, to Fujian Province's use of cross-border e-commerce as an important lever for foreign trade transformation and upgrading, to Wuhan's guidance for manufacturing enterprises to accelerate the expansion of overseas sales channels...the continuous efforts in cross-border e-commerce are effectively promoting high-quality development of China's foreign trade.

Rapidly growing data highlights the good growth trend of cross-border e-commerce. In 2020, China's cross-border e-commerce import and export volume reached 1.69 trillion yuan, an increase of 31.1%. This year, it continues to maintain double-digit high-speed growth, reaching 886.7 billion yuan in the first six months, with a growth rate of 28.6%.

Ren Hongbin, Vice Minister of Commerce, recently stated that the "Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Accelerating the Development of New Forms and Models of Foreign Trade" recently issued mainly proposes six new forms of business, "among which cross-border e-commerce is currently the fastest-growing, most potential, and most powerful type of new foreign trade business."

So, what is the driving force behind cross-border e-commerce's "leading" role in new foreign trade business?

The biggest advantage lies in the basic formation of China's "four pillars and eight columns" policy system for cross-border e-commerce, and the rapid growth of the system has been initially established. Since 2015, the State Council has established 105 cross-border e-commerce pilot zones in five batches, basically covering the whole country, forming a development pattern of land and sea linkage and east-west mutual assistance.

Moreover, a series of effective "strategies" have been formed. In particular, the mature experience and practices of the "six systems and two platforms" of the cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones have been replicated and promoted nationwide. The "six systems and two platforms" mainly refer to the "six systems" of information sharing, financial services, intelligent logistics, e-commerce integrity, statistical monitoring, and risk prevention, as well as the "two platforms" of online comprehensive services and offline industrial parks for cross-border e-commerce. China has tailored nearly 100 supporting policies for this, initially establishing a policy framework suitable for the development of cross-border e-commerce. The Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Port Office have also built a national-level, total-to-total online comprehensive service platform for cross-border e-commerce based on the international trade single window.

Along with its rapid development, cross-border e-commerce companies' export channels have become more diversified. Some rely on large e-commerce platforms to conduct business, some build their own independent stations to develop markets, and new business models such as live streaming "bringing goods" and big data marketing have also emerged. A number of Chinese companies and brands have gained recognition in the international market, and the "Chinese experience" and "Chinese solution" have become new samples for the development of global cross-border e-commerce, providing reference for the development of e-commerce in various countries.

At present, cross-border e-commerce has become a new driving force for foreign trade development, a new channel for transformation and upgrading, and a new lever for high-quality development. Next, efforts should be made from different levels, such as government and enterprises, to promote the high-quality development of China's cross-border e-commerce.

From the government's perspective, on the one hand, it should solidly promote the construction of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, better play the pilot zones' demonstration and leading role in cross-border e-commerce, use innovation to solve deep-seated contradictions and systemic problems, cultivate new competitive advantages in foreign trade, promote the integration of foreign trade formats and trade industries, and drive the development of open economies in various regions. On the other hand, it is necessary to further improve supporting policies for the development of cross-border e-commerce. Research and formulate guidelines for the protection of intellectual property rights in cross-border e-commerce, optimize the list of cross-border e-commerce retail import goods, and facilitate the management of returns and exchanges for cross-border e-commerce imports and exports.

From the perspective of enterprises, it is necessary to further enhance their core competitiveness. It is necessary to improve and expand the advantages of enterprises in the industrial chain through new-generation information technology. At the same time, it is also necessary to make good use of cross-border e-commerce policies, choose appropriate cooperation methods for overseas suppliers, connect various links in production, circulation and consumption, and gradually achieve a transition to providing full-process high-quality services. Through continuous strengthening of government-enterprise cooperation, jointly promote the development of cross-border e-commerce.