WIC Wuzhen Summit 2025: E-commerce driving global connectivity

As the 2025 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit approaches, e-commerce is set to take center stage as one of the most anticipated topics, highlighting its growing role in fostering global digital connectivity. 

Wuzhen scenery [Photo/wicinternet.org]

As an international organization committed to building a global internet platform for extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the WIC has consistently emphasized win-win cooperation in its approach to e-commerce development.

In 2023, the WIC established the Working Group on Cross-border E-commerce, creating a platform for dialogue among representatives and experts from industrial enterprises, research institutions, government departments, and academic institutions. Since then, the working group has hosted seminars, conducted research on international regulatory frameworks, and released the Report on Developments of International Normative Systems on Cross-border E-commerce—a landmark initiative aimed not at short-term outcomes but at contributing to global digital governance.

Report on Developments of International Normative Systems on Cross-border E-commerce [Photo/wicinternet.org]

In 2024, the WIC released the 2024 World Internet Conference Collection of Cross-border E-commerce Practice Cases and launched a cross-border e-commerce competitiveness assessment framework. During the Wuzhen Summit, a series of research reports on cross-border e-commerce competitiveness across countries platform enterprises, and logistics enterprises were also unveiled. These initiatives transformed fragmented industrial experience into actionable global insights, offering valuable guidance for future policymaking and rule-setting.

Cross-Border Ecommerce Competitiveness Research Report [Photo/wicinternet.org]

Building on these achievements, the WIC has continued to strengthen multilateral cooperationin 2025.It has conducted field studies in Chinese cities such as Fuzhou, Quanzhou, and Xiamen, and recently released the 2025 World Internet Conference Collection of Cross-border E-commerce Cases at the Symposium on International Cross-Border E-commerce in Shenzhen on Sept 26.

2025 World Internet Conference Collection of Cross-border E-commerce Cases [Photo/wicinternet.org]

The 2025 case collection presents 87 representative cases that reflect emerging trends such as branding, digital intelligence, collaboration, and regulatory compliance. The publication aims to serve as a valuable reference for the global cross-border e-commerce sector and help small and medium-sized enterprises expand into international markets while sharing the benefits of the digital economy.

China's Zhejiang province offers a vivid example of how cross-border e-commerce can boost global connectivity. As a major hub of foreign trade, Zhejiang has leveraged digital platforms to enable products—from Yiwu's small commoditiesto Wenzhou's light industrial goods—to reach markets around the world. At the same time, high-quality global resources are increasingly accessible to local consumers, demonstrating the two-way flow of goods and ideas that underpins the WIC's mission to promote coordinated global digital trade development.

Wuzhen scenery [Photo/wicinternet.org]

Since its establishment in 2023, the WIC Cross-border E-commerce Working Group has steadily built a multilateral dialogue mechanism through reports,symposiums, and research initiatives. To further advance e-commerce development, the WIC will officially launch the WIC E-commerce Committee during this year's summit.

The new committee will bring together leading experts, scholars, WIC members, and industry leaders from around the world. Guided by the principles of openness, fairness, sharing, and sustainability, it aims to establish aregular, systematic and long-term cooperation mechanism to promote the application of digital technologies and foster a global business environment conducive to the high-quality growth of e-commerce.

As Wuzhen once again becomes the world's digital focal point, the upcoming summit is expected to further enhance international exchanges, encourage the sharing of best practices, and strengthen global cooperation in e-commercedevelopment—bringing the world closerthrough digital connectivity.