Effect of Digital Infrastructure on the High-quality Development of Trade in Xinjiang
As the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt,Xinjiang serves as a pivotal region in China's"dual circulation"development strategy and the promotion of high-quality trade development.By 2023,5G outdoor cov-erage has been achieved in urban parts of all county-level administrative areas in Xinjiang,with a basic 5G co-verge rate of 99.16%in major township areas,which solidifies the foundation for"Digital Xinjiang".This study first examines the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of high-quality trade development in Xinjiang based on panel data from 14 districts and prefectures in Xinjiang from 2011 to 2021,then analyzes the effects of digital in-frastructure on the high-quality trade development in Xinjiang from three aspects:direct impact,mediating effects,and heterogeneity.The conclusions are as follows:The level of high-quality trade development in Xin-jiang has continuously improved;areas with higher level of high-quality trade development exhibit clustering char-acteristics;the high-quality development of Xinjiang's trade can be promoted by digital infrastructure,direct for-eign investment,and financial development;digital infrastructure can indirectly influence trade quality improve-ment through the promotion of technological innovation.In light of these conclusions,the study provides the propos-als such as optimizing the spatial layout of digital infrastructure,promoting trade digitization,guiding foreign invest-ment and financial institutions to support high-quality trade development in Xinjiang,and strengthening the input in technological innovation to build a new engine for trade growth.
Xinjianghigh-quality trade developmentcore area of the Silk Road Economic Beltdigital infra-structure