The Chinese Experience of Developing Cross-Border E-Commerce Under the "Belt and Road" Framework: Factors, Challenges, and Solutions

Cross-border e-commerce is becoming the driver of digital globalization and is of strategic importance in the growth of world trade. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, China has released a number of guidelines to accelerate the process of development regarding the cross-border e-commerce industry, including the Digital Silk Road project. However, the boosting of cross-border e-commerce is followed by challenges. This article investigates the main factors affecting the current situation with cross-border e-commerce within the 51 countries along route. Based on empirical analysis, it is concluded that logistics infrastructure has so far been the key factor for cross-border e-commerce's sustainable development. Thus, general suggestions are given, among which the priority belongs to improvement of the existing logistics infrastructure and construction of the new one. Several directions for future research in this area are recommended, such as exploration of new logistics mechanisms and schemes, based on digitalization and innovations.