Synergistic Effects of FDI and Cross-Border E-Commerce in China’s Digital Economy: an Empirical Analysis Based on Inter-provincial Panel Data

Integrating the digital economy with the real economy necessitates further exploration of how foreign direct investment (FDI) and cross-border e-commerce (CE) drive China's export trade growth. This paper analyzes panel data from eastern, central and western China to assess how FDI and CE impact export trade using FMOLS and DOLS method while considering regional differences. The study's results reveal that (1) FDI and CE significantly boost export trade, with the most potent effects in the eastern region, followed by the central and western regions; (2) The impact of factors like labor resources and GDP on export trade varies significantly, with the eastern region showing the highest marginal utility; (3) The eastern region outperforms in foreign capital use and e-commerce development, benefiting from high economic openness and strong infrastructure, while the central and western regions need to improve their investment environments and infrastructure. These findings provide a basis for promoting high-quality export trade and coordinated regional economic growth.