Cross-border e-commerce helps Chinese products reach more global consumers

Cross-border e-commerce has connected Chinese products with global consumers, from the tropical shores of Hainan Island in south China to the bustling border crossings of Heilongjiang Province in the far northeastern reaches of the country.

At a cross-border e-commerce agency in Haikou, Hainan Province, foreign host Jim from Pakistan is passionately promoting Hainan's unique products to global customers. After coming to China 13 years ago for his studies, Jim chose to stay. Over the past few years, he has astutely seized opportunities presented by surging demand for Chinese goods in overseas markets.

"Foreigners generally love Hainan's coconut products, such as coconut water. The most popular ones are the traditional clothes from the Li and Miao ethnic groups, the traditional products," said Jim.

The head of the cross-border e-commerce agency reported that they have established partnerships with over 1,000 overseas hosts. Through short videos and live streams, they have blended Hainan's intangible cultural heritage, tropical tourism resources, cosmetics, home goods, and specialty agricultural products for distribution to overseas markets. Their monthly sales have soared past 3.47 million yuan (about 496,000 U.S. dollars).

"Viewership for each session ranges from 10,000 to 30,000. Currently, we are experiencing a phase of significant growth," said Ruan Ningfu, head of the cross-border e-commerce agency.

In Suifenhe, a city in Heilongjiang Province, bustling international trade enterprises are busy processing a steady stream of new orders. Local companies specializing in clothing, electronics, and more are leveraging cross-border e-commerce platforms to connect with overseas markets.

"Our sales have been particularly strong this year, with a growth rate of around 30 percent. Chinese products are especially popular among Russian consumers," said Zhang Baoxin, cross-border e-commerce operations manager at Jutong International Trade Co., Ltd.

At the international cross-border e-commerce regulatory site in Suifenhe, staff diligently sorted cross-border packages, preparing them for shipment to consumers abroad.

"Online shopping for foreigners is becoming quicker and more convenient. Our company can reliably handle 80,000 cross-border packages daily, with peak seasons like 'Double 12' seeing daily orders exceed 300,000," said Wang Fakui, chairman of Suifenhe Financial Investment Group Co., Ltd.

Cross-border e-commerce helps Chinese products reach more global consumers

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting