The Value of the Digital Silk Road for Win-Win Cooperation

At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is deepening, the processes of digitalization, networking, and intelligentization are accelerating, and building the Digital Silk Road is of great significance. In May 2017, President Xi Jinping first proposed the concept of the "Digital Silk Road" at the opening ceremony of the First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, emphasizing the need to adhere to innovation-driven development, strengthen cooperation in frontier fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and quantum computing, and promote the construction of big data, cloud computing, and smart cities, connecting them into a 21st-century Digital Silk Road. In April 2019, President Xi Jinping stressed building the Digital Silk Road and an Innovation Silk Road at the opening ceremony of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, pointing out that China will continue to implement the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, and work with all parties to advance four major initiatives: scientific and technological people-to-people exchanges, joint laboratory construction, science park cooperation, and technology transfer. Subsequently, President Xi Jinping explicitly stated on multiple occasions the need to build a "Digital Silk Road." This series of important expositions profoundly reveals the significant value of building the Digital Silk Road for promoting global economic recovery, enhancing connectivity, and creating an open and win-win cooperation model, charting the course for China and other countries to jointly pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

当前，新一轮科技革命和产业变革深入发展，数字化、网络化、智能化进程不断加快，建设数字丝绸之路具有重大意义。2017年5月，习近平主席在第一届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛开幕式上首次提出“数字丝绸之路”这一概念，强调要坚持创新驱动发展，加强在数字经济、人工智能、纳米技术、量子计算机等前沿领域合作，推动大数据、云计算、智慧城市建设，连接成21世纪的数字丝绸之路。2019年4月，习近平主席在第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛开幕式上强调建设数字丝绸之路、创新丝绸之路，指出中国将继续实施共建“一带一路”科技创新行动计划，同各方一道推进科技人文交流、共建联合实验室、科技园区合作、技术转移四大举措。此后，习近平主席在多个场合明确表示要打造“数字丝绸之路”。一系列重要论述深刻揭示了建设数字丝绸之路对于推动全球经济复苏、促进互联互通和打造开放共赢的合作模式的重要价值，为中国与各国高质量共建“一带一路”、携手构建网络空间命运共同体指明方向。

A pragmatic choice adapted to the times and circumstances

因时因势的务实选择

In recent years, the digital economy has become an important engine driving global economic growth. According to relevant statistics, in 2023, the total digital economy of five countries—the United States, China, Germany, Japan, and South Korea—exceeded 33 trillion US dollars, with the growth rate of the digital economy in each country higher than its GDP growth rate. Looking at the proportion of industrial digitalization within the digital economy, digitalization is accelerating its comprehensive penetration into traditional industries and driving the transformation and upgrading of industrial structures. According to the "China Digital Economy Development Research Report (2024)", the scale of China's digital economy in 2023 reached 53.9 trillion yuan, an increase of 3.7 trillion yuan over the previous year. The scale of China's digital economy remains firmly in second place globally, and its influence and important position in the development of the global digital economy are increasingly expanding and consolidating.

近年来，数字经济已成为推动全球经济增长的重要引擎。据相关统计，2023年，美国、中国、德国、日本、韩国等5个国家的数字经济总量已超33万亿美元，数字经济增速均高于其国内生产总值增速。从产业数字化在数字经济中的比重看，数字化正加速向传统产业全面渗透并推动产业结构转型升级。另据《中国数字经济发展研究报告（2024年）》，2023年中国数字经济规模达到53.9万亿元人民币，较上年增加3.7万亿元。中国数字经济规模稳居世界第二，在全球数字经济发展中的影响力和重要地位日益扩大和巩固。

Driven by the digital economy, technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence are accelerating innovation, and digital product trade, digital service trade, and data trade are developing rapidly, becoming new trends in international trade development. However, it must also be recognized that problems currently exist, such as the absence of global digital governance rules, restrictions on cross-border data flows, and rising trade protectionism, which to varying degrees hinder the full release of digital dividends. How to achieve the synchronized resonance of digital technological progress and institutional construction has become an important issue of high concern for governments and international organizations. Against this backdrop, promoting the construction of the Digital Silk Road is not only a pragmatic choice for China to further comprehensively deepen reform and expand high-standard opening up, but also an effective way to promote the construction of an inclusive and fair multilateral global digital governance system.

在数字经济驱动下，大数据、云计算、人工智能等技术加速创新，数字产品贸易、数字服务贸易和数据贸易等快速发展，已成为国际贸易发展的新趋势。但也要看到，目前尚存在全球数字治理规则缺位、数据跨境流动受限以及贸易保护主义上升等问题，不同程度阻碍了数字红利的充分释放。如何实现数字技术进步与制度建设同频共振，已成为各国政府与国际组织高度关注的重要议题。在此背景下，推动数字丝绸之路建设不仅是中国进一步全面深化改革、扩大高水平对外开放的务实选择，更是推动构建包容、公平的多边全球数字治理体系的有效途径。

On the one hand, the construction of the Digital Silk Road can achieve an upgrade of the "connectivity" cooperation model. The joint construction of the Belt and Road has already achieved tangible results in the "hard connectivity" of traditional infrastructure such as energy, ports, and railways. On this basis, the Digital Silk Road emphasizes extending to areas such as cloud computing, big data, 5G, artificial intelligence, and cross-border optical cables, and strengthens the alignment of rules and standards in the digital field with partner countries, promoting regional digital policy coordination, and achieving positive progress in the field of "soft connectivity." For example, by the end of 2022, China had signed "Digital Silk Road" cooperation memoranda of understanding with 17 countries, jointly creating an open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory digital development environment.

一方面，数字丝绸之路建设能够实现“互联互通”合作模式的升级。共建“一带一路”已在能源、港口、铁路等传统基础设施“硬联通”领域取得了实实在在的成绩，数字丝绸之路在此基础上强调向云计算、大数据、5G、人工智能、跨境光缆等领域延伸，并与共建国家加强数字领域的规则标准联通，推动区域性数字政策协调，在“软联通”领域取得积极进展。例如，截至2022年底，中国已与17个国家签署“数字丝绸之路”合作谅解备忘录，携手打造开放、公平、公正、非歧视的数字发展环境。

On the other hand, the construction of the Digital Silk Road can provide a platform for breaking down global digital trade barriers and promoting multilateral rule coordination. Compared with the rising trade protectionism in certain countries, China insists on promoting open cooperation under the framework of the Digital Silk Road. By advocating for the safe and orderly cross-border flow of data and the unified compatibility of technical standards, it is committed to creating a fairer, more transparent, and more predictable business environment for enterprises in partner countries, achieving significant results in practice. For example, with the further enhancement of trade exchanges between China and ASEAN, the monetary cooperation between the two sides has deepened. By promoting cross-border payment connectivity, China and ASEAN have effectively reduced transaction costs. Another example is that under the "Silk Road e-commerce" framework, as of now, China has signed e-commerce cooperation memoranda of understanding with more than 30 countries and established bilateral e-commerce cooperation mechanisms, with partners spanning five continents. "Silk Road e-commerce" has become a new channel and highlight for economic and trade cooperation. These practices not only highlight the positive role of the Digital Silk Road in promoting regional cooperation and reducing institutional costs, but also demonstrate the transparent, open, and inclusive cooperation model that China advocates in global digital governance.

另一方面，数字丝绸之路建设可为打破全球数字贸易壁垒、促进多边规则协调提供平台。相较于某些国家的贸易保护主义日益抬头，中国在数字丝绸之路框架下坚持推动开放合作，通过倡导数据跨境流动安全有序、技术标准统一兼容，致力于为共建国家的企业营造更加公平、透明及可预期的营商环境，在实践中已取得显著成效。例如，随着中国与东盟之间贸易往来的进一步提升，双方的货币合作不断深入，中国与东盟通过推进跨境支付互联互通，有效降低交易成本。又如，在“丝路电商”框架下，截至目前，中国已与30多个国家签署电子商务合作谅解备忘录并建立双边电子商务合作机制，合作伙伴遍及五大洲，“丝路电商”成为经贸合作新渠道和新亮点。这些实践不仅凸显了数字丝绸之路在推动区域合作与降低制度性成本方面的积极作用，也展示了中国在全球数字治理中所倡导的透明、开放、包容的合作模式。

Practical exploration in cooperation fields

合作领域的实践探索

Through the effective combination of "hard connectivity" and "soft connectivity," the Digital Silk Road is gradually forming a digital economy cooperation mechanism that balances economic benefits, rule coordination, and social development. From a practical perspective, the cooperation fields of the Digital Silk Road are mainly concentrated in the following two areas.

数字丝绸之路通过“硬联通”与“软联通”的有效结合，正在逐步形成兼顾经济效益、规则协调与社会发展的数字经济合作机制。从实践角度来看，数字丝绸之路的合作领域主要集中在以下两个方面。

First, digital infrastructure construction. In recent years, China has engaged in extensive cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries on infrastructure connectivity such as cross-border optical cables, 5G base stations, and data centers. Among these, a relatively representative project is the China-Pakistan Cross-Border Optical Cable project jointly built by China and Pakistan. This is the first direct cross-border terrestrial optical cable between China and Pakistan and a key project for communication network connectivity between the two countries under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. In addition, the China-ASEAN Information Harbor is a regional cooperation platform jointly built by China and ASEAN countries, aimed at promoting technology sharing and innovation cooperation. These projects have not only improved the level of regional connectivity but also provided important support for the development of cross-border e-commerce and the smooth flow of cross-border data. Looking to the future, the Digital Silk Road will continue to expand cooperation in areas such as data storage and intelligent computing power, gradually forming a "land, sea, air, and cyberspace" four-in-one connectivity network that both meets the development needs of various countries and supports the digitalization process.

一是数字基础设施建设。近年来，中国与“一带一路”共建国家围绕跨境光缆、5G基站、数据中心等基础设施互联互通展开广泛合作。其中，比较有代表性的是中国与巴基斯坦共同建设的中国—巴基斯坦跨境光缆项目，这是中巴首条跨境直达陆地光缆，也是中巴经济走廊框架下两国通信网络互联互通的重点项目。此外，中国—东盟信息港是中国与东盟国家共同建设的区域性合作平台，旨在推动技术共享和创新合作。这些项目不仅提升了区域互联互通水平，也为跨境电商发展、跨境数据畅通流动提供了重要支撑。着眼未来，数字丝绸之路将继续在数据存储、智能算力等领域扩展合作，逐步形成既契合各国发展需求、又能够支撑数字化进程的“陆海天网”四位一体互联互通网络。

Second, the formulation of digital trade rules. In recent years, China has continuously deepened digital trade cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries by building comprehensive pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce and launching new models for export supervision, accumulating replicable and scalable experience in facilitation policies. At the same time, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as the free trade agreement with the largest participating population, the largest economic and trade scale, and the greatest development potential in the world, has many members that are also Belt and Road partner countries, reflecting the continuous deepening of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. RCEP, by establishing a dedicated e-commerce chapter, sets provisions on electronic authentication and electronic signatures, online consumer protection, etc., providing an important reference for regional digital trade cooperation. The in-depth implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and RCEP not only demonstrates China's exploration and practice in promoting cross-border digital trade, but also reflects the important value of RCEP in promoting regional institutional coordination and governance innovation. These practices and experiences provide strong support for the construction of the Digital Silk Road.

二是数字贸易规则制定。近年来，中国通过建设跨境电商综合试验区和启动出口监管新模式，不断深化与“一带一路”共建国家的数字贸易合作，积累了可复制、可推广的便利化政策经验。同时，《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》（RCEP）作为世界上参与人口最多、经贸规模最大、最具发展潜力的自由贸易协定，其很多成员也是“一带一路”共建国家，成为高质量共建“一带一路”在亚太地区持续深化的体现。RCEP通过设立专门的电子商务章节，在电子认证和电子签名、线上消费者保护等方面作出规定，为区域数字贸易合作提供重要参考。共建“一带一路”与RCEP的深入实施，既展现出中国在推动跨境数字贸易中的探索与实践，又体现出RCEP在促进区域制度协调与治理创新中的重要价值，这些实践与经验为数字丝绸之路建设提供有力支撑。

Comprehensive measures to solve problems and challenges

综合施策破解难题挑战

As the construction of the Digital Silk Road advances, its role in promoting global digital economy cooperation is becoming increasingly prominent. It must also be recognized that in the current complex and volatile international environment, the construction of the Digital Silk Road still faces a series of problems, mainly including the fragmentation of global digital governance mechanisms, the difficulty of multilateral coordination, the increase in new types of digital trade barriers, prominent issues of data security and privacy protection, and the insufficient voice of emerging economies in the formulation of international standards. In response, comprehensive measures and targeted efforts can be considered from the following aspects.

随着数字丝绸之路建设深入推进，其在促进全球数字经济合作中的作用日益凸显。还要看到的是，在当前错综复杂的国际环境中，数字丝绸之路建设尚面临一系列问题，主要包括全球数字治理机制碎片化、多边协调难度较大、新型数字贸易壁垒增多、数据安全与隐私保护问题突出、新兴经济体在国际标准制定中话语权不足等。对此，可考虑从以下几个方面综合施策、精准发力。

First, further promote the coordination of bilateral and multilateral rules. At the bilateral cooperation level, a series of dialogue mechanisms can be used to strengthen policy and institutional coordination, and to explore the formation of regional demonstration zones for the digital economy and digital trade. At the multilateral cooperation level, coordination can be carried out with international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), actively participating in the digital agenda internationally, and fully utilizing multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as RCEP [1]1 RCEP: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade agreement among fifteen Asia-Pacific countries signed in 2020. and the G20 [2]2 G20: The Group of Twenty, an intergovernmental forum of the world's major economies. to vigorously promote mutual recognition of rules and compatibility of standards.

第一，进一步推动双多边规则协调。双边合作层面，可通过一系列对话机制加强政策制度协调，探索形成区域性数字经济和数字贸易示范区。多边合作层面，可与世界贸易组织（WTO）等国际组织协同配合，在国际上积极参与数字议程，并充分利用RCEP、G20等多边合作机制，大力推动规则互认与标准兼容。

Second, explore the establishment of a digital trade dispute settlement mechanism. Consideration can be given to drawing on the experience of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism to explore the establishment of mechanisms related to the Digital Silk Road, providing transparent, effective, and low-cost dispute settlement channels for enterprises engaged in cross-border e-commerce. Promote institutional arrangements in areas such as cross-border payments, electronic currencies, data circulation, and electronic certification, to reduce compliance costs and improve the predictability of cooperation as well as the efficiency and fairness of dispute settlement.

第二，探索建立数字贸易争端解决机制。可考虑借鉴WTO争端解决机制的经验，探索建立数字丝绸之路相关机制，为从事跨境电子商务的企业提供透明、有效、低成本的争端解决渠道。在跨境支付、电子货币、数据流通、电子认证等领域推进制度化安排，降低合规成本，提高合作的可预期性和争端解决的效率与公平性。

Third, strengthen cooperation on data security and privacy protection. It is necessary not only to strengthen the top-level design of data security governance under the framework of the Digital Silk Road, accelerate the establishment of standards for data security protection capabilities, strengthen data security law enforcement, promote the establishment of international cooperation mechanisms for data security governance, and advance the research, development, and application of privacy protection technologies; but also to expand channels for exchange and mutual learning, promote information sharing among countries, enhance the ability to prevent and control risks such as cyberattacks and data breaches, and achieve basic compatibility of security standards while respecting the data sovereignty of each country.

第三，加强数据安全与隐私保护合作。既要在数字丝绸之路框架下强化数据安全治理的顶层设计，加快确立数据安全防护能力标准，加强数据安全执法，推动建立数据安全治理国际合作机制，推动隐私保护技术研发与应用；也要拓展交流互鉴渠道，促进各国信息互通，提升对网络攻击、数据泄露等风险的防控能力，并在尊重各国数据主权的前提下，实现安全标准的基本兼容。

In general, the Digital Silk Road is not only an organic combination of digital economy development and the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative [3]3 Belt and Road Initiative: A global infrastructure and economic development strategy proposed by China in 2013., but also an important public good for promoting global digital economy cooperation. Building the Digital Silk Road not only provides a practical path for breaking down digital trade barriers, facilitating cross-border data flows, unleashing the value of data as a factor of production, promoting compatibility of technical standards, and enhancing digital competitiveness, but also creates conditions for emerging economies to gain greater voice in global digital governance. Looking ahead, the construction of the Digital Silk Road will continue to play a more active role in promoting global digital transformation, fostering open and inclusive development, and establishing mutually beneficial and win-win digital trade cooperation mechanisms, injecting new impetus into global economic recovery and sustainable development.

总的来说，数字丝绸之路不仅是数字经济发展与共建“一带一路”的有机结合，更是推动全球数字经济合作的重要公共产品。建设数字丝绸之路不仅为打破数字贸易壁垒、便利数据跨境流动、释放数据要素价值、推动技术标准兼容及增强数字竞争力提供现实路径，也为新兴经济体在全球数字治理中争取更大话语权创造条件。展望未来，数字丝绸之路建设将继续在推动全球数字化转型、促进开放包容发展、建立互利共赢数字贸易合作机制等方面发挥更加积极的作用，为全球经济复苏和可持续发展注入新的动力。

(The author is a foreign teacher at the School of International Studies, University of International Business and Economics, and a foreign researcher at the National Academy of Opening-up Research.)

（作者系对外经济贸易大学国际学院外籍教师、国家对外开放研究院外籍研究员）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧