A member of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) stressed the importance of the region’s rural revitalization as it plays a pivotal role in the success of constructing the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).
Xu Mei, also secretary of the Party Committee at Hainan Normal University, shared her insights on the development of the Hainan FTP and its unique characteristics in a recent interview with the China Global Television Network in Hainan.
“I think the Hainan FTP is a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. It stands out because the whole island operates as a single customs zone. Unlike other global free trade ports, the Hainan FTP has both cities and vast rural areas. Building a free trade port on this basis requires a different approach and mindset. That’s why if we want to build a strong free trade port in Hainan, we must first ensure that rural revitalization and development reach a higher level,” Xu said.
Currently, Hainan is promoting projects such as Beautiful Countryside, aiming to build distinctive and eco-friendly rural communities. Xu believes that a successful free trade port should be based on thriving villages.
“Next, we need to tell the world more about the Hainan FTP: its development is not just about urbanization or cities, but about elevating the entire island to a new level. I believe that beautiful rural areas are even more worth developing because they are more ecological and green, and align perfectly with our future goals and requirements for resource and environmental protection,” she said.
Hainan Normal University, where Xu serves as the secretary of the Party Committee, focuses on internationalizing education. The university has organized visits to Hainan’s rural areas for its international students to learn and understand local conditions, Xu said.
According to Xu, those students are very interested in and inspired by the continuous development and progress they see in the countryside. Some of the international graduates have expressed their desire to stay in Hainan as they can feel the vitality of the port.
The whole FTP reflects Hainan’s fundamental blueprint for ecological and green development, and the future of Hainan lies in integrating urban and rural development while prioritizing ecological sustainability and green growth, she said.