## 4 Discussion
### Lessons and Suggestions  
Although both the DE and GD levels exhibited an overall upward trend from 2013 to 2021, several issues remain unresolved. (1) Significant spatial disparities exist between the eastern and central-western regions in terms of DE and GD levels as well as their adaptability to financial shocks. (2) The DE has exerted a negative impact on GD, although this effect has gradually diminished. (3) The diffusion and application of technological innovations have lagged, potentially limiting the growth of the DE and hindering its contribution to GD. Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are proposed.  
Short-term policy recommendations: The government could reduce regional disparities through financial subsidies and the establishment of special funds. On the one hand, the central and western regions could be aided in speeding up infrastructure development, facilitating technology introduction, and advancing industrial upgrading to support the growth of the DE. On the other hand, the central-western regions could be aided in speeding up infrastructure development, facilitating technology introduction, and advancing industrial upgrading to support the growth of the DE. This would help enterprises reduce costs in technology R&D and application. By rapidly investing in green technologies, the short-term negative impact of the DE on GD could be mitigated.  
Medium-term policy recommendations: Building on improved infrastructure, the government could further promote green financial instruments to enhance corporate enthusiasm for green transition. Moreover, relevant laws and regulations should be strengthened by the government. This would ensure the widespread adoption of technological innovation and its application. For instance, more detailed carbon emission standards and regulations for green technology applications should be established.  
Long-term policy recommendations: Coordinated regional development should be promoted by the government, and effective mechanisms should be established to balance resource allocation and policy support. Simultaneously, businesses should be encouraged to adhere to a commitment to GD while fostering the DE. Furthermore, a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system could be established. Policies can be continuously adjusted based on the monitoring results to ensure the coordinated and sustainable development of the DE and GD.  
Although this study was based on data from China, the policy recommendations proposed have broad applicability and provide significant references for regions with similar development conditions and policy goals. Policies should be tailored to local conditions to address the regional disparities between the DE and GD. For instance, in regions with significant economic disparities (e.g., Latin America), optimizing resource allocation to narrow the regional gaps between the DE and GD can effectively promote coordinated growth. Emerging economies actively advancing digital transformation (e.g., India and Indonesia) should employ policy interventions to mitigate potential negative impacts during the initial stages of digitalization such as promoting green technologies and strengthening environmental governance mechanisms. Furthermore, the finding that the sustained impact of the digital economy on green development involves a lag serves as a warning to nations focused on short-term gains while neglecting long-term policy impacts. This indicates the necessity of designing long-term policies to prevent short-term profit motives from compromising green development goals.