General

With the rapid development of digital technology, digital trade is playing an increasingly important role in the global economy. Digital trade is of great significance for the high-quality development of China's economy. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that developing digital trade and accelerating the construction of a trade powerhouse. Digital trade generally includes two categories: digital service trade and digital goods trade. Digital service trade includes three major categories: information technology services, digital content services, and others; Digital goods trade mainly refers to digital trade on e-commerce platforms.

The rise of digital trade has benefited from the popularization of the Internet and technological progress, bringing about many important changes:

Firstly, digital trade expands the boundaries of international trade markets. Through cross-border e-commerce, Chinese enterprises can directly access the global market and carry out trade activities with low cost and high efficiency. This can provide new opportunities for China's product exports and promote the opening and competition of the Chinese market.

Secondly, digital trade drives innovation and upgrading. The application of digital technology promotes the Digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of traditional industries, and promotes the optimization of production methods and the improvement of efficiency. Chinese enterprises are actively exploring new business models in digital trade, promoting innovative development, and injecting new impetus into the economy.

Thirdly, digital trade promotes the growth of service trade. With the vigorous development of digital technology, the emerging digital service industry has spawned new business models and formats, such as online education, cloud computing, software development, etc. The development of digital trade in China injects new vitality into service trade, further promoting the diversified development and upgrading of international trade economy.

On a global scale, digital trade has become an important component of international trade, and the scale of global digital trade has been continuously expanding in recent years. According to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in 2021, the scale of global cross-border digital service trade reached $3.86 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 14.3%, accounting for 63.3% of service trade. Digital trade promotes seamless connectivity in global markets, making the flow of goods, services, and capital more convenient and efficient, promoting the integration and optimization of global supply chains, reducing trade and time costs, and promoting global trade development and economic growth.

In China's economy, digital trade is thriving and playing an important role. China is the world's largest e-commerce market with a large number of online users. The scale of cross-border e-commerce international trade exports in China is constantly expanding, and more and more enterprises in China are selling their products to various parts of the world through e-commerce platforms. Chinese enterprises have also made significant progress in digital technology innovation and business model innovation, thereby continuously promoting the development of digital trade.

In addition to e-commerce, China has also made significant achievements in areas such as digital payments, digital services, and digital technology innovation. Mobile payment has become an indispensable part of people's daily lives in China, and it has been widely used in both online shopping and offline payment. The digital service industry in China has also rapidly risen, covering fields such as online education, online entertainment, and cloud computing, injecting new vitality into economic growth. At the same time, China has also made remarkable achievements in technological innovation in artificial intelligence, Big data analysis, Internet of Things and other fields, providing technical support and driving force for the development of digital trade. In addition, digital trade takes data as its core, providing more accurate information support for enterprises and governments, and assisting in the scientific and effective decision-making.

At the same time, we must also face the challenges and problems in the development of digital trade, including the behaviors endangering data security and privacy protection, the widening digital divide, the imperfect laws, regulations and policy environment, and the urgent need to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights. In order to better promote the high-quality development of China's economy, in the field of digital trade, China should actively take the following measures:

One is to strengthen the research and application of data security technology, and improve the security of data transmission and storage. Establish sound data protection laws, regulations, and standards to ensure the legitimate use and protection of personal and commercial data. Strengthen the capacity of regulatory agencies, increase supervision and law enforcement efforts on data security and privacy protection.

The second is to increase support for the popularization of digital technology and the development of the digital economy, providing technical training and infrastructure construction. Strengthen regional cooperation, promote the sharing and exchange of digital technology resources, and promote the narrowing of the digital divide. Encourage businesses and social organizations to participate in digital inclusive projects, provide digital technology training and support, and ensure that everyone can share the opportunities and benefits of the digital economy.

The third is to strengthen international cooperation and coordination, and formulate a consistent legal, regulatory, and policy framework for digital trade. Promote the facilitation and transparency of digital trade, and reduce trade and technical barriers. Establish a dispute resolution mechanism to handle digital trade disputes and safeguard the rights and interests of all parties.

Fourthly, the legal framework and enforcement efforts for intellectual property protection should be strengthened to combat infringement. Strengthen the promotion and education of intellectual property protection, and enhance the awareness of intellectual property and compliance among the public and enterprises. Strengthen international cooperation in intellectual property protection and combat intellectual property infringement.

In summary, digital trade is crucial for the high-quality development of China's international trade economy. Only by actively promoting the development of digital trade can China's economy achieve high-quality leapfrog development and meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital era. (Translated from: China Trade News)