By Chen Hongna, Research Team on “Sino-European Economic and Trade Cooperation in the New Development Pattern”, Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations, DRC

Research Report, No.388, 2021 (Total 6453) 2021-12-14

Abstract: China and the EU share similar strategic objectives, and boast notable complementary merits and huge cooperation potential for the development of digital economy, especially in fields such as digital and related products trade, technological research and development, digital infrastructure construction, and international governance. However, the changes in the bilateral cooperation and competition between China and EU as well as the external interference of U.S. has added to the barriers hindering further exchanges and cooperation of their digital economic development, in particular, in terms of data governance system, 5G network, technical standards and market access and so on. Given that cooperation for mutual interests remains the mainstream for Sino-European relations, this paper offers the following policy options. First, the two sides need to treat their differences in a more open-minded manner and to unleash the cooperation potential by further deepening domestic supervision reform, enhancing the openness of key fields, and exploring new room for cooperation. Second, work needs to be done to remove the policy barriers in further cooperation by accelerating digital supervision and institutional exchanges. Third, efforts need to be made to strive for greater consensus on development by strengthening mutual interest integration and bond. Forth, a favorable atmosphere for international cooperation needs to be fostered by pushing ahead with the coordination of their stances in international rule formulation.

Keywords: Sino-European digital economic cooperation, 5G network technical standards, international rules