One of this morning's sessions focused on the concept of "new retail" -- or the integration of online, offline, logistics and data across a single value chain. The guests looked at how new technologies are changing traditional e-commerce. Some also talked about bringing Chinese products and services overseas, especially those involved in the Belt & Road initiative.

YI QING CEO, OSELL "For even some of the more developed Middle East countries along the Belt and Road, there is still a long way to go in terms of infrastructure, data collection and a sound environment for e-commerce. For example, a small country -- nicknamed 'the Hong Kong of the Middle East', with a per capita GDP approaching 30 thousand US dollars -- they don't even have mobile payment or delivery services. What we are doing is helping them to upgrade their Business-to-Customer channel, bring their services online, and help them build basic mobile payment services. Though this way we connect China's production with their local new retail channels, what we call cross-border new retail."