WIC symposium explores future of cross-border e-commerce

The World Internet Conference (WIC) hosted the Symposium on International Cross-Border E-Commerce in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, on Sept 26 under the theme "Powering Cross-Border E-Commerce — Digitizing Global Markets."

The event brought together government officials, diplomats, business leaders and experts from around the world to discuss opportunities and challenges in the fast-growing cross-border e-commerce sector. 

Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC, Jiang Yaoping, former vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of the former Ministry of Information Industry, H.E.Mr.Md Nazmul Islam, ambassador of Bangladesh to the People's Republic of China, and Wu Kunsheng, deputy secretary-general of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government delivered remarks. The symposium was chaired by Liang Hao, the executive deputy secretary-general of the WIC.

Speakers noted that cross-border e-commerce has become a new engine of global trade growth, accelerating globalization and reshaping international commerce. They highlighted favorable policy reforms in customs, taxation, and payment systems, as well as the deep integration of AI and big data across supply chains. At the same time, participants acknowledged challenges such as uneven digital infrastructure, divergent national policies, regulatory gaps in AI, rising compliance costs, and consumer protection pressures.

The symposium called for stronger multilateral dialogue platforms to enhance global coordination, improve international rules and standards, and reduce compliance costs, deeper application of digital and intelligent technologies across supply chains to enable resource sharing and integration, more open exchange of best practices to build a mutually beneficial ecosystem, and reinforced risk management systems to ensure secure and sustainable growth of the sector.

Speakers included representatives from international organizations, research institutions, and leading companies. Topics ranged from "Artificial Intelligence Enabling New Paradigms in Cross-Border E-Commerce Governance" to "How Digital Technology is Reshaping the Global Value Chain of Cross-Border E-Commerce.“

At the event, WIC also released the Collection of Cross-Border E-Commerce Practice Cases (2025), featuring 87 representative cases from governments, universities, research institutions, financial institutions, international organizations, industry associations, and enterprises. A panel discussion followed with representatives from supporting and selected case organizations.

Another roundtable focused on ideas and approaches for building cross-border e-commerce ecosystem.

The symposium, hosted by the WIC and co-organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, attracted around 200 participants from international organizations, embassies, WIC member units, industry associations, enterprises, and media outlets.