The cross-border e-commerce forum between China and France is held in Paris, France, on Oct 24. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Hangzhou, an emerging technological hub and home to the e-commerce giant Alibaba, shared its digital experiences and insights at a Sino-French cross-border e-commerce forum in Paris, France, on Oct 24.

Co-organized by China (Hangzhou) Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Area and the Association of Hangzhouese in Europe, the second edition of the forum attracted over 1,000 representatives and entrepreneurs from China and France to share their thoughts on the current trends in the digital industry.

"This forum is a high-level meeting which not only facilitates the bilateral exchanges and trade communications between China and France, but also provides a platform for French people to understand the Chinese business ecosystems and culture," said Gao Yuanyuan, minister–counselor for the economic affairs of the China Embassy in China.

Philippe Douste-Blazy, former French foreign minister, noted that China and France, two countries representing the biggest digital consumer markets in Asia and Europe, are irreplaceable trade partners of each other. The two governments will work together and strive to build a sound trade ecosystem, he added.

"As one of the economically strongest cities in China, Hangzhou is an e-commerce hub with one third of the national e-commerce platforms", said Shi Huangkai, vice director of China (Hangzhou) Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Area, adding that the pilot area has been committed to promoting the liberalization and facilitation of international trade since its establishment in 2015.

In recent years, China has witnessed a boom in the development of cross-border e-commerce, surpassing the United States to become the world's largest e-commerce market in 2015.

It is estimated that the market scale of China's e-commerce will reach $120 billion in 2021.

Gao Yuanyuan, minister-counselor for the economic affairs of the China Embassy in France, makes a keynote speech at a cross-border e-commerce forum in Paris, France. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

China (Hangzhou) Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Area, the country's first cross-border e-commerce base, is located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]