China’s cross-border e-commerce grew 30 percent in 2015 from 2014. That is in net contrast with China’s foreign trade, which declined 7 percent.

The Ministry of Commerce expects cross-border e-commerce to continue to grow at a 30 percent pace in the next few years.

There are now more than 5,000 cross-border e-commerce platforms across the country. And more than 200,000 foreign trade companies work with these platforms to trade goods.

Cross-border e-commerce will provide more choices for Chinese consumers at lower costs because it can link businesses directly to consumers.

On the other side, China’s small and medium companies will have easier access to global markets via the platforms. They also will have more chances to sell goods globally at lower costs.