Pathways for the Digital Economy to Drive Urban-Rural Integration in Guangxi, China

In recent years, the digital economy has emerged as a new driving force for global development, offering innovative pathways and practical experiences for urban-rural integration. Focusing on Guangxi as a case study, this paper explores how the digital economy promotes urban-rural integration through pathways such as infrastructure development, rural e-commerce growth, digital public services, and digital governance. The study finds that improved digital infrastructure fosters information sharing between urban and rural areas, rural e-commerce significantly enhances the value and competitiveness of agricultural products, digital technology improves the equity of public services, and digital governance enhances the efficiency of urban-rural coordination. However, challenges persist, including insufficient policy implementation, a shortage of technology and talent, and uneven distribution of digital infrastructure. To address these bottlenecks, the paper proposes recommendations such as enhancing infrastructure construction, strengthening talent development, optimizing policy support, and expanding application scenarios. These findings aim to provide valuable references for advancing urban-rural integration and digitalization in other less-developed regions.