As the inaugural forum held in November 2018 at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, China, meticulous planning went into curating an immersive experience for participants while laying the foundation for future forums.

The forum was marked by a spirit of knowledge sharing and mutual learning. Participants engaged in robust discussions on various aspects of e-commerce, including its potential to foster innovation, its role in promoting international trade, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. The forum also emphasized the importance of building networks and partnerships among Belt and Road countries to promote CBEC.

The team demonstrated their pioneering spirit by organizing a diverse mix of novel activities. Their efforts to involve subject experts were visible through 8 academic presentations analyzing e-commerce landscapes across countries like China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa and Kenya. To balance theory with practice, they arranged hands-on visits to two innovative companies - Loulanmiyu, specialized in Xinjiang dried fruits, and a cultural enterprise applying traditional Chinese values in modern management.

However, the highlight was organizing a field visit to the headquarters of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group in Hangzhou, China. Participants toured selected facilities to gain first-hand insights into operations within a photo studio and customer service department. This provided a unique peek into the processes powering the biggest e-commerce success story. The team also facilitated a tour of Yiwu International Trade City for interactions between participants and local Indian, Pakistani businessmen based there. These visits brought theoretical discussions to life.

As the forum concluded, proposals were put forth for recurring forums, student exchanges and "learning by doing" e-commerce training initiatives, sowing seeds for future growth. The first forum's mix of activities sparked great enthusiasm amongst participants about the potential for cross-border collaborations.