Strawberry's Journey Abroad Highlights Digital Trade Impact

China's integration of 5G networks and advanced digital infrastructure is reshaping its economy and enhancing various sectors, particularly foreign trade and agriculture. A noteworthy example of this transformation is Jiangxian strawberries, which have successfully ventured overseas, highlighting the pivotal role that digital tools play in fostering trade.

This case provides valuable insights into how China's digital economy is progressively influencing trade patterns through innovative commercial practices. A streamlined export process now surrounds the Jiangxian strawberries, which, once harvested and packaged, undergo inspection via video connections with customs authorities, complete with quality checks in approximately thirty minutes. This efficiency allows the strawberries to be transported through a cold-chain system and flown directly to Dubai, reaching supermarket shelves within 48 hours.

Local media reported that in January, a shipment of 180 kilograms of Jiangxian strawberries marked a significant milestone as it was the first time strawberries from Shanxi province entered the international market. The shipment sold out rapidly upon arrival, contributing to an expanded portfolio of 15 varieties of fresh fruit exported from the province.

This export venture was initiated in June 2025, when an e-commerce company manager discovered the strawberries through a livestream and subsequently partnered with Jiangxian. This scenario underscores a significant shift in commercial relationships as digital platforms increasingly complement traditional trade fairs and intermediaries.

The benefits of this development have been substantial for local communities. According to local customs authorities, the burgeoning strawberry industry in Jiangxian has improved the incomes of over 800 households. Beyond cultivation factors, the performance of these strawberries exemplifies how digital trade channels can yield tangible benefits for rural populations.

The story of Jiangxian strawberries is representative of a broader trend. Livestreaming has surged in prominence across China, driven by a developing digital economy characterized by infrastructure advancements, e-commerce expansion, and changing consumer habits toward digital consumption. Collectively, these elements are shaping a continually evolving digital commerce ecosystem, facilitating more efficient exchanges of goods and services and providing producers direct access to new markets.

China's digital infrastructure supports this evolution robustly, featuring more than 4.5 million 5G base stations and an internet penetration rate nearing 80 percent. This backbone supports the rapid advancement of the digital economy across multiple sectors, leading analysts to describe a "digital economy plus" framework that enhances traditional industries with digital capabilities. Foreign trade is one segment significantly benefiting from this development.

Digital technologies are streamlining imports and exports, with Jiangxian strawberries serving as a micro-example of broader trends. Business models such as cross-border e-commerce are witnessing rapid evolution, with China's cross-border trade reaching 2.75 trillion yuan, approximately $398 billion, in 2025, reflecting a 69.7 percent increase since 2020. These statistics illustrate how digital platforms facilitate more direct and efficient trade.

The digitalization of trade, bolstered by technologies like artificial intelligence, is spawning new business models combining livestreaming with e-commerce. By reducing transaction costs and lessening reliance on traditional intermediaries, these innovations are broadening access to foreign markets, enabling previously marginalized regions to engage more substantially with global consumer bases.

For instance, exports from Zhuoni County in Gansu Province skyrocketed from zero in 2021 to 10.22 million yuan in 2025. E-commerce enterprises surged from 15 to 49 in the same period, and numerous agricultural operators successfully transitioned into the digital realm.

These narratives collectively underscore the increasing importance of the digital economy in trade and its broader implications for economic activities. While these changes are prominently visible in China, they resonate globally, prompting economies worldwide to consider how best to accelerate digital development while upgrading traditional sectors.

In this context, opportunities for deeper collaboration between China and other nations are burgeoning. Chinese enterprises have accumulated substantial experience in e-commerce and livestreaming, which can serve as a catalyst for local economies as they look to expand their international footprint.