ABSTRACT
This chapter serves as the general introduction of the book, systematically elaborating on the research background, significance, and overall framework concerning global value chain (GVC) digitalization and the high-quality development of China's manufacturing industry. Currently, GVCs are undergoing profound restructuring due to shifts in the international landscape, trade frictions, and pandemic impacts. China's manufacturing sector faces challenges such as being locked in low-end positions and insufficient innovation. The vigorous development of digital technology offers a new pathway for the transformation and upgrading of manufacturing. The digital economy and trade models have profoundly altered the patterns of international division of labor and benefit distribution. Against this backdrop, this chapter clarifies the core research questions: the connotation of GVC digitalization, its impact on the high-quality development of China's manufacturing industry, and its underlying mechanisms. The research holds significant theoretical importance – enriching theories of digital trade and GVCs, and expanding research on factors influencing high-quality manufacturing development. It also bears urgent practical significance – aiding in clarifying the current status and challenges of China's manufacturing within digital GVCs, and providing references for policymaking. Finally, this chapter outlines the main content of the subsequent seven chapters, laying a clear foundation for the following research.
