General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, General Office of the State Council: Promote the orderly expansion of opening up in the fields of telecommunications, the internet, and culture

On November 28th, Thursday, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued opinions on the reform and innovative development of digital trade.

The opinions propose that the main goals are: by 2029, the scale of digitally deliverable service trade will steadily increase, accounting for more than 45% of China's total service trade; the layout of digital trade infrastructure will be further improved, a system and mechanism suitable for the development of digital trade will be basically established, and the level of openness in the digital field will be significantly improved, with comprehensive strengthening of alignment with international high-standard economic and trade rules.

By 2035, the proportion of digitally deliverable service trade in China's total service trade will increase to over 50%; a well-ordered, secure, and efficient digital trade governance system will be fully established, and the level of institutional openness will be comprehensively improved.

Key points are as follows:

Promote the innovative development of digital service trade such as digital finance, online education, remote medical care, and specialized services that can be digitally delivered, enhancing brand and standard influence. Develop new business formats and models for service outsourcing such as cloud outsourcing and platform subcontracting, and promote the accelerated digital transformation of service outsourcing. Strengthen innovation in key core technologies, accelerate the development of foreign trade in fields such as communication, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and satellite navigation.

Relax market access in the digital field, promote and regulate cross-border data flow. Improve the management model of national treatment before market access plus a negative list, promote the orderly expansion of openness in telecommunications, the Internet, culture, and other fields, and encourage foreign investment in the digital field. Deeply eliminate market access barriers, improve the facilitation level of foreign-invested enterprises in the digital trade field for domestic investment and operation. Improve the safety management system for data exit, refine relevant mechanisms and procedures, and standardize and orderly conduct security assessments for data exit. Under the premise of ensuring the security of important data and personal information, establish an efficient, convenient, and secure mechanism for cross-border data flow, promoting the orderly flow of data across borders.

Strengthen security governance in the digital field. Optimize and adjust the catalog of prohibited and restricted import and export technologies. Continuously promote the openness, security, stability, and sustainability of global digital technology, products, and service supply chains. Leverage the role of various specialized courts to promote the diversified development of international commercial dispute resolution mechanisms in the digital field.

Cultivate and grow the main entities of digital trade. Cultivate a batch of leading enterprises in digital trade with strong innovation capabilities and influence. Actively nurture small and medium-sized digital trade enterprises with high outward orientation and unique competitive advantages. Build a good ecosystem for mutual promotion and collaborative development among large, medium, and small enterprises, creating internationally competitive digital industry clusters. Support the orderly development of digital platform enterprises, playing a positive role in leading development, creating jobs, and international competition.

The full content is as follows:

Opinions of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council on the Reform and Innovative Development of Digital Trade

Digital trade is an important component of the digital economy and has become a new trend in international trade development and a new growth point for the economy. In order to promote the reform and innovative development of digital trade, the following opinions are proposed with the consent of the Party Central Committee and the State CouncilI. Overall Requirements

Adhere to Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, fully and accurately implement the new development concept, maintain the general principle of seeking progress while ensuring stability, serve the construction of a new development pattern, focus on promoting high-quality development, coordinate the domestic and international situations, balance development and security, promote the deep integration of the real economy and the digital economy, facilitate the reform and innovative development of digital trade, and make greater contributions to shaping new momentum and advantages for the development of foreign trade, accelerating the construction of a digital China and a strong trading nation.

According to the principles of prioritizing innovation, ensuring safety, expanding openness, achieving win-win cooperation, deepening reform, and systematic governance, as well as piloting first and focusing on breakthroughs, promote the reform and innovative development of digital trade.

The main goals are: By 2029, the scale of digitally deliverable service trade will steadily increase, accounting for over 45% of China's total service trade; the layout of digital trade infrastructure will be further improved, a basic system and mechanism suitable for the development of digital trade will be established, and the level of openness in the digital field will be significantly enhanced, with comprehensive strengthening of alignment with international high-standard economic and trade rules.

By 2035, the scale of digitally deliverable service trade will account for over 50% of China's total service trade; an orderly, safe, and efficient digital trade governance system will be fully established, and the level of institutional openness will be comprehensively improved.

II. Support the Development of Sub-sectors and Business Entities in Digital Trade

(1) Actively develop digital product trade. Strengthen innovation in digital application scenarios and models, enhance the quality and level of digital content production, cultivate and expand cross-border digital delivery channels, and improve international competitiveness.

(2) Continuously optimize digital service trade. Promote the innovative development of digital service trade such as digital finance, online education, remote medical care, and specialized services for digital delivery, enhancing brand and standard influence. Develop new business formats and models for service outsourcing such as cloud outsourcing and platform subcontracting, and accelerate the digital transformation of service outsourcing.

(3) Vigorously develop digital technology trade. Strengthen innovation in key core technologies and accelerate the development of foreign trade in fields such as communication, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and satellite navigation.

(4) Promote the high-quality development of digital ordering trade. Encourage various entities such as e-commerce platforms, operators, and supporting service providers to grow stronger and accelerate brand building. Advance the construction of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones and support the development of "cross-border e-commerce + industrial belts." Promote the integration of domestic and foreign trade in the digital field.

(5) Cultivate and strengthen digital trade business entities. Cultivate a group of leading enterprises in digital trade with strong innovation capabilities and influence. Actively nurture small and medium-sized digital trade enterprises with high outward orientation and unique competitive advantages. Build a good ecosystem for mutual promotion and coordinated development among large, medium, and small enterprises, creating internationally competitive digital industry clusters. Support the orderly development of digital platform enterprises, playing a positive role in leading development, creating jobs, and international competition.

III. Promote Institutional Openness in Digital Trade

(6) Relax market access in the digital field. Improve the management model of national treatment before market access combined with a negative list, promote the orderly expansion of openness in telecommunications, the Internet, culture, and other fields, and encourage foreign investment in the digital field. Deeply eliminate market access barriers and enhance the facilitation level for foreign-invested enterprises in the digital trade sector to invest and operate domestically(7) Promote and regulate cross-border data flow. Improve the security management system for data exit, enhance relevant mechanisms and procedures, and conduct orderly security assessments for data exit. Under the premise of ensuring the security of important data and personal information, establish an efficient, convenient, and secure mechanism for cross-border data flow to promote the orderly movement of data across borders.

(8) Build a high-level open platform for digital trade. Construct a high-standard digital service export platform and create a digital trade aggregation area. Actively align with international high-standard economic and trade rules, and encourage various reforms and opening-up measures in the digital field to be piloted and tested in conditional digital service export platforms, free trade pilot zones, and free trade ports.

Leverage the roles of platforms such as the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the Global Digital Trade Expo to promote exchanges and cooperation in the field of digital trade.

IV. Improve the governance system for digital trade

(9) Actively participate in the formulation of international rules for digital trade. Engage in the development of relevant rules for digital trade in multilateral and regional frameworks such as the World Trade Organization, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, creating an open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for digital development. Actively promote the process of joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Participate in the formulation of international tax rules for economic digitization, exploring the establishment of a more reasonable distribution of tax benefits and a fairer tax burden related to digital trade. Engage in negotiations on digital economic commercial rules with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law, and the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

(10) Deepen international cooperation in digital trade. Promote the establishment of international cooperation mechanisms in the digital field, strengthen international cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, cross-border settlement, and mobile payments, and deepen the interconnectivity of digital infrastructure. Enhance digital trade cooperation with ASEAN countries, Central Asian countries, BRICS countries, and members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

(11) Accelerate the construction of a digital trust system. Speed up the establishment of a digital trade certification system, promote the development, innovation, and application of cutting-edge technologies for digital trust, and cultivate a digital trust ecosystem. Promote international mutual recognition of digital certificates, electronic signatures, and other credentials. Encourage the international development of third-party service institutions related to data security, data assets, and digital credit.

(12) Strengthen security governance in the digital field. Optimize and adjust the catalog of prohibited and restricted import and export technologies. Continuously promote the openness, security, stability, and sustainability of global digital technology, products, and service supply chains. Leverage the roles of various specialized courts to promote the diversification of international commercial dispute resolution mechanisms in the digital field.

V. Strengthen organizational guarantees

(13) Strengthen organizational leadership. Uphold and enhance the Party's comprehensive leadership over digital trade work. Party committees and governments at all levels should implement this opinion in conjunction with actual conditions, improve relevant systems and mechanisms, and provide strong support for the development of digital trade. The Ministry of Commerce should fully play its leading role, strengthen overall coordination and supervision, and promote the formation of a collaborative effort for the reform and innovative development of digital trade. Regions may formulate supporting documents related to digital trade development based on local conditions.

(14) Improve laws, regulations, and standards. Promote relevant legislation in the field of digital trade, coordinating the advancement of domestic rule of law and foreign-related rule of law. Encourage localities with conditions to introduce local regulations on digital tradeStrengthen the construction of standardized technical organizations for digital trade and accelerate the formulation and revision of standards in the field of digital trade.

(15) Establish and improve the statistical system. Establish a sound statistical monitoring and early warning system for digital trade, and timely release statistical data on digital trade. Support statistical exchanges and cooperation with relevant international organizations, key countries, and research institutions. Compile and publish reports on the development of China's digital trade and related indices to enhance public service levels.

(16) Strengthen multi-channel support and guarantees. Enhance support for digital technology research and development, promote the transformation of achievements, and foster innovative development through integration with other industries. Fully leverage the role of the Innovation and Development Guidance Fund for Service Trade to drive social capital investment in the digital trade sector.

(17) Strengthen intellectual property protection. Research and construct rules for data intellectual property protection. Enhance legal protection for source code, algorithms, encryption keys, trade secrets, and other proprietary information. Accelerate the promotion of digital product identification. Strengthen public services for intellectual property in the field of digital trade. Enhance trademark registration and protection related to digital trade. Broaden channels for overseas intellectual property rights protection and dispute resolution.

(18) Strengthen talent and intellectual support. Enhance training related to digital trade to improve the professional quality of leading cadres. Utilize the expertise of digital trade specialists and strengthen research on relevant theories and practices. Support higher education institutions in establishing disciplines related to digital trade. Innovate talent cultivation models for digital trade, strengthen the training of top innovative talents, deepen cooperation between schools and enterprises, and support enterprises in enhancing professional talent training