The sixth China New E-Commerce Conference took place recently, where organizers released the China New E-Commerce Development Report (2026), according to 中华网. The event centered on the theme of using digital and intelligent tools to refresh the sector's future.
The report and conference highlighted how new e-commerce is evolving beyond traditional online sales. Coverage from outlets including 新浪财经, 凤凰网, 光明网, and 搜狐网 pointed to specific trends: small food producers using digital channels to reach new markets, a growing focus on training and retaining specialized e-commerce talent, and the rise of county-level business ecosystems, particularly in Jilin province.
One featured example involved a traditional pancake maker that successfully pivoted to online sales, illustrating how legacy products can find new traction through digital storefronts. Another report examined Jilin's broader push to cultivate, attract, and keep skilled workers in the e-commerce field, framing talent as a key bottleneck and opportunity for regional growth.
The conference's emphasis on "数智赋能" — combining data and smart technology — signals that China's e-commerce strategy is shifting toward deeper integration of AI, logistics, and localized supply chains. The Jilin case studies suggest that provincial governments are treating new e-commerce as a core driver for rural revitalization and small-business modernization.
What to watch next: how quickly the policies and training programs discussed at the conference translate into measurable gains for county-level merchants and whether other provinces adopt similar playbooks.
