Guizhou partners with Mekong countries in cross-border e-commerce

A seminar on cross-border e-commerce boosting economic development in Mekong countries was held in Guian New Area, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Aug 23.

The seminar is a part of this year's China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week.

Since its launch in 2016, the Lancang-Mekong cooperation has become a successful example of regional cooperation. According to Chinese diplomat Wang Fukang, China hopes to work with Mekong countries to build the region into a demonstration area for the Belt and Road Initiative, a pioneer of global development, and a pilot area of global security.

China hopes to cooperate with Mekong countries in economic development and digital innovation and help more products from Mekong countries enter the Chinese market faster relying on e-commerce and livestreaming, Wang added.

Cross-border e-commerce is an emerging trade industry that is online, multilateral and contactless with a short supply and demand chain. It has become a key part of stable international trade amid the pandemic and boosted both domestic and international economic cycles.

As part of China's first batch of big data comprehensive pilot areas, Guizhou is devoted to big data development. In 2021, the growth rate of Guizhou’s digital economy was 20.6 percent and 4.4 percentage points higher than the national average, ranking first in China for the seventh year.

In the first half of this year, Guizhou's online retail sales were valued at 25.9 billion yuan ($3.78 billion), an increase of 80.59 percent year-on-year. The total value of e-commerce imports and exports was 4.14 billion yuan.

Guizhou is currently home to 137 e-commerce companies and has set up various overseas warehouses to provide clients with one-stop services for overseas goods consolidation, transportation, delivery, customs clearance, storage, and distribution.

Through cross-border e-commerce, Guizhou's tires, tea, Sichuan pepper, chili pepper, chestnut rose products, guitars, hardware devices and toys are exported around the world.

Yang Jian, deputy head of the Department of Commerce of Guizhou Province, said that Guiyang and Zunyi are national cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot areas and will receive support from the department to enhance exchanges and cooperation in e-commerce with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The department will also help more cities and prefectures apply for cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot areas, cultivate e-commerce businesses, and promote the coordinated development of industrial clusters and cross-border e-commerce.