International visitors share contacts at the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

At the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo, the Silk Road E-commerce Zone strongly showcased the vibrancy of cross-border trade in the digital age.

From Indonesia's kopi luwak and Australia's manuka honey to China's own herbal health products, visitors enjoyed a one-stop "global supermarket" with experiences, tastings, scanning and ordering on site.

Tech-driven innovation stood out. Hangzhou-based ArcSoft's PSAI system allows merchants to turn a flat product image into AI-generated photos with virtual models and diverse backdrops in under a minute — slashing costs by up to 90 percent and lowering barriers for small sellers to open a shop solo.

Meanwhile, Emirati company Disrupt-X highlighted AI and IoT solutions linking Chinese manufacturing strength with Middle Eastern market demand.

As host city, Hangzhou has become a hub for cross-border e-commerce. Its trade volume has grown over 1,200 times in a decade and payment platforms like CoGoLinks recently obtained the UAE's first license for a Chinese provider.

With AI powering new tools in product listing, marketing and compliance, the expo underscored just how Silk Road e-commerce is unlocking new global opportunities while helping small businesses go international.

A humanoid robot waves at visitors from a stand. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]