Recently, The 2024 China-Japan-Korea Industrial Cooperation Development Forum: Cross-border E-commerce Ecosystem Optimization Symposium, organized by the School of Management, Shandong University, was successfully held in Weifang, Shandong. The forum, themed“Driving Global Trade Momentum and Building a New Digital Trade Ecosystem”, brought together distinguished attendees, including LEE Hee-sup, Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), Di Bo, Vice Mayor of Weifang, Qu Mingjun, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Director of the Organization Department of the Party Committee of Shandong University, and Liang Guoyong, Senior Economist of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
LEE stated that among the global cross-border e-commerce markets, China, Japan, and Korea are leaders in technological innovation and market size, serving as models for world cross-border e-commerce cooperation through diversified cross-border trade methods and cutting-edge digital strategies. The TCS attached great importance of the pivotal role of cross-border e-commerce in regional economic collaboration, and united the forces of economic and trade cooperation to promote trade connections among the three countries.
Di expressed that since Weifang has been approved as a national comprehensive pilot region for cross-border e-commerce, the city focused on platform development, policy support, service optimization, and implementation effectiveness, leveraging its Comprehensive Bonded Zone as a key driver. Besides, Weifang has also deepened the "cross-border e-commerce + industrial belt" model, and strengthened integrated development across multiple domains. Di called for greater attention and support for Weifang, encourage contributions of ideas and investments to empower the city. The Government will spare no effort to provide the best environment, the most attentive services, and the most comprehensive guarantees.
Qu highlighted the important role of Shandong University as an institution with a rich academic tradition and strong innovative capabilities in promoting regional economic development and social progress. Shandong University has always valued its comprehensive cooperation with Weifang, and both parties have taken the lead in establishing the "Shandong University-Weifang Cross-border Trade (E-commerce) Industry Research Institute" within the province. The institute has built a professional platform for talent cultivation and resource sharing within the e-commerce industry, and will continue to inject new vitality into the development of digital technology and the promotion of digital trade.
The keynote session was presided over by Wu Changqi, Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Management at Shandong University. Liang Guoyong, Foreign Member of the Japan Academy of Engineering, delivered keynote speech on the topic of“Digital and Intelligent Transformation, Digital Trade, and Sustainable Development”. Shi Jianming, Professor at Tokyo University of Science, delivered keynote speech on the topic of“AI-Driven International Trade Supply Chains and Emerging Ecosystems”. Zhao Dongcheng, Chairman of the Seoul School of Integrated Sciences and Technologies, former Dean of the Business School at Seoul National University, and former President of Incheon National University, delivered keynote speech on the topic of “National Brand Value Rating: Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs)”. Lu Jinyong, Professor at the University of International Business and Economics and Director of China Research Center for Foreign Direct Investment, delivered keynote speech on the topic of "New Characteristics and Trends in China's Utilization of Foreign Capital and Investment Attraction".
The roundtable discussion was presided over by Ren Rong, Vice Director of the Shandong University-Weifang Cross-border Trade (E-commerce) Industrial Research Institute. Participants included Zong Fangyu, Director of the Research Office of the Foreign Economic Research Department at the Development Research Center of the State Council; Du Guochen, Director of the E-commerce Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation; Qi Jianhong, Distinguished Young Scholar of Shandong University, Professor at the School of Economics, and Chief Expert of a Major Project supported by National Social Science Fund of China; Lv Zhibin, Deputy Director of the Research Center of Taobao and Tmall Group and former Director of the New Consumption Research Center at AliResearch; and Li Yaoxin, Senior Account Manager of the Northern Region at the International Core Business Unit of Alibaba Group. They engaged in a discussion centered around the theme of "Unleashing New Momentum in the Global Trade Chain and Jointly Building a New Digital Trade Ecosystem", exploring topics such as the digital transformation of the global trade chain, integration of industrial clusters with cross-border e-commerce, and strategies for small and medium enterprises to participate in the global digital trade ecosystem through policy, technology, and platform support.
The event was the part of the series of activities celebrating the 123rd anniversary of Shandong University. The forum attracted approximately 150 participants, including Zhou Ying, the first-class researcher from the Foreign Trade Division of the Provincial Department of Commerce, representatives from the School of Management, Shandong University, Weifang Municipal Government, Bureau of Commerce, Customs, Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Comprehensive Bonded Zone Administration Committee, major cross-border e-commerce enterprises, and academic institutions across China.
The School has deeply committed to serving the development strategies of the nation and Shandong Province in recent years, with a focus on establishing a world-class business school. In the future, relying on the Shandong University-Weifang Cross-border Trade (E-commerce) Industry Research Institute and the Shandong University Cross-border E-commerce Research Institute, the School plans to leverage its academic and innovative strengths to promote the research and innovation in cross-border e-commerce. Additionally, it aims to cultivate more high-quality talents who can adapt to the development of digital trade, thereby providing intellectual support for China's digital economy and contributing to the sustainable development of global trade.
