E-commerce is considered an effective way to build a new competitive edge and avoid trade protectionism as it directly ships goods to consumers, Li Jiabao reports

As China's foreign trade faces rising costs at home and sluggish demand abroad, flourishing e-commerce services are expected to boost cross-border trade and change the image of Made-in-China products, experts said.

China's cross-border e-commerce companies are being confronted with challenges of credibility, varying standards, talent shortage and insufficient intellectual property rights protection.