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.

China released a master plan in June 2020 to build Hainan into a globally influential, high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

According to the institutional design, the China Customs builds up a “first line” between the FTP and other countries and regions beyond the customs territory of the People’s Republic of China, and a “second line” between the FTP and the rest of the Chinese mainland.

“Achieving independent customs operations is a key objective in the master plan for building the Hainan Free Trade Port. It serves as a fundamental and landmark step in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, which also marks a significant milestone,” Liu said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress.

The governor explained the special customs mechanism, noting that some people might mistakenly associate the term with isolation.

“When people hear the term ‘independent customs operations’, they many associate the practice with some sort of a closed-door move. However, that’s not the case. In essence, the independent customs operations feature free flow through the ‘first line’ and efficient control at the ‘second line’. To summarize, the Hainan FTP is open to international trade.  But due to tax and policy differences [between the port and the mainland,] controls are necessary at the ‘second line’, where designated ports must be established,” he said.

“We’ve made steady progress in pushing for independent customs operations, with five key systems, namely, policy, infrastructure, risk prevention and control, industry, and organizational support basically in place,” Liu said.

With the building of the Hainan FTP, the number of newly registered foreign trade companies in the province has surpassed 70,000 since June 2020, contributing significantly to the growth of Hainan’s foreign trade.Hainan is on track to achieve independent customs operations by the end of the year, as China moves forward in building its southernmost island province into a free trade port (FTP) as a premier gateway for the country’s opening-up, said Governor Liu Xiaoming in Beijing on Friday.

China released a master plan in June 2020 to build Hainan into a globally influential, high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

According to the institutional design, the China Customs builds up a “first line” between the FTP and other countries and regions beyond the customs territory of the People’s Republic of China, and a “second line” between the FTP and the rest of the Chinese mainland.

“Achieving independent customs operations is a key objective in the master plan for building the Hainan Free Trade Port. It serves as a fundamental and landmark step in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, which also marks a significant milestone,” Liu said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress.

The governor explained the special customs mechanism, noting that some people might mistakenly associate the term with isolation.

“When people hear the term ‘independent customs operations’, they many associate the practice with some sort of a closed-door move. However, that’s not the case. In essence, the independent customs operations feature free flow through the ‘first line’ and efficient control at the ‘second line’. To summarize, the Hainan FTP is open to international trade.  But due to tax and policy differences [between the port and the mainland,] controls are necessary at the ‘second line’, where designated ports must be established,” he said.

“We’ve made steady progress in pushing for independent customs operations, with five key systems, namely, policy, infrastructure, risk prevention and control, industry, and organizational support basically in place,” Liu said.

With the building of the Hainan FTP, the number of newly registered foreign trade companies in the province has surpassed 70,000 since June 2020, contributing significantly to the growth of Hainan’s foreign trade.

Speaking during a group interview shortly before the convening of the second plenary meeting of the third session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, Cai Qiang, an NPC deputy, briefed the media about the latest achievements made during the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

“In 2025, the Hainan Free Trade Port will begin its independent customs operation. The so-called ‘independent customs operation’ means transforming Hainan into a special customs supervision zone. This is not about closing off, but rather about opening up to the world even more. It’s about achieving liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment,” said Cai Qiang, who is also the deputy director of the Office of the Hainan Free Trade Port Working Committee.

According to a government work report presented at the annual session of the Hainan Provincial People’s Congress, which opened in mid-January, Hainan plans to introduce key policies this year, including a catalog of taxable imported goods, a list of prohibited and restricted items for import and export and customs supervision regulations.

“Hainan’s duty-free shopping policy for departing visitors has added new pickup methods which are ‘organization-guaranteed’ and ‘deposit-guaranteed.’ For goods that are applicable under these methods, people can purchase them at duty-free shops and take them immediately. People can consume and use [duty-free products] during their stay in Hainan, without having to wait until their departure from the island like before. In recent years, with the advancement of the Free Trade Port’s construction, a number of shipping companies, such as the COSCO Shipping (a Chinese international container transportation and shipping company), have gathered here. This has sent Hainan’s gross tonnage of international transport ships to a historic second place in the nation,” said Cai.

Beyond the benefits for tourists, the Hainan Free Trade Port is offering major incentives for businesses. Cai said during his inspection and research tour to the Yangpu International Container Terminal, one company’s business has benefited from nearly 300 million yuan (about 41.5 million U.S. dollars) in corporate and personal income tax breaks in four years thanks to the favorable polices since the company relocated in Hainan.

He also said that three key “zero-tariff” lists have been introduced in Hainan, covering raw materials, self-use production equipment, and transportation tools, including yachts.

“After the independent customs operation takes place in the future, the range of goods eligible for a zero tariff will be greatly expanded. In terms of low tax rates, we have a series of policies, including a preferential tax rate of 15 percent for both corporate income tax and personal income tax. These policies will be further optimized and upgraded after the operation. Regarding the tax system, we are actively designing relevant reform plans,” said Cai.

China released a master plan in June 2020 to build Hainan into a globally influential, high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

With the building of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the number of newly registered foreign trade companies in the province has surpassed 70,000 since June 2020, contributing significantly to the growth of Hainan’s foreign trade.

Speaking during a group interview shortly before the convening of the second plenary meeting of the third session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, Cai Qiang, an NPC deputy, briefed the media about the latest achievements made during the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

“In 2025, the Hainan Free Trade Port will begin its independent customs operation. The so-called ‘independent customs operation’ means transforming Hainan into a special customs supervision zone. This is not about closing off, but rather about opening up to the world even more. It’s about achieving liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment,” said Cai Qiang, who is also the deputy director of the Office of the Hainan Free Trade Port Working Committee.

According to a government work report presented at the annual session of the Hainan Provincial People’s Congress, which opened in mid-January, Hainan plans to introduce key policies this year, including a catalog of taxable imported goods, a list of prohibited and restricted items for import and export and customs supervision regulations.

“Hainan’s duty-free shopping policy for departing visitors has added new pickup methods which are ‘organization-guaranteed’ and ‘deposit-guaranteed.’ For goods that are applicable under these methods, people can purchase them at duty-free shops and take them immediately. People can consume and use [duty-free products] during their stay in Hainan, without having to wait until their departure from the island like before. In recent years, with the advancement of the Free Trade Port’s construction, a number of shipping companies, such as the COSCO Shipping (a Chinese international container transportation and shipping company), have gathered here. This has sent Hainan’s gross tonnage of international transport ships to a historic second place in the nation,” said Cai.

Beyond the benefits for tourists, the Hainan Free Trade Port is offering major incentives for businesses. Cai said during his inspection and research tour to the Yangpu International Container Terminal, one company’s business has benefited from nearly 300 million yuan (about 41.5 million U.S. dollars) in corporate and personal income tax breaks in four years thanks to the favorable polices since the company relocated in Hainan.

He also said that three key “zero-tariff” lists have been introduced in Hainan, covering raw materials, self-use production equipment, and transportation tools, including yachts.

“After the independent customs operation takes place in the future, the range of goods eligible for a zero tariff will be greatly expanded. In terms of low tax rates, we have a series of policies, including a preferential tax rate of 15 percent for both corporate income tax and personal income tax. These policies will be further optimized and upgraded after the operation. Regarding the tax system, we are actively designing relevant reform plans,” said Cai.

China released a master plan in June 2020 to build Hainan into a globally influential, high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

With the building of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the number of newly registered foreign trade companies in the province has surpassed 70,000 since June 2020, contributing significantly to the growth of Hainan’s foreign trade.

Hainan province is on track to achieve independent customs operations by the end of this year, marking a significant step toward establishing the Hainan Free Trade Port as a premier gateway for China’s opening-up in the new era, according to Feng Fei, secretary of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Speaking with China Daily on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions, Feng emphasized that the Hainan initiative will drive the country’s opening-up in a broader and deeper way.

“Hainan is fully dedicated to ensuring the seamless implementation of independent customs operations as planned,” he said, adding that the final stages of preparation, encompassing tasks, projects and stress tests, are nearing completion.

All 10 ports crucial for transshipping imported goods to the rest of China have passed their national acceptance inspections, he noted.

Feng also said that independent customs operations have the potential to enhance Hainan’s alignment with international high-standard economic and trade regulations, accelerating the creation of an open institutional system with global competitiveness.

In recent years, the island province has made significant progress in establishing a tax policy framework characterized by zero tariffs, low tax rates and simplified tax systems, facilitating the free and convenient movement of trade, investment, cross-border capital, people and vehicles, as well as the secure and orderly flow of data in and out of the free trade port.

For example, the duty-free policy for processing value-added domestic sales has been expanded to the entire island.

Hainan has attracted investment from 158 countries and regions and streamlined financial transactions with 41 countries and regions through multifunctional free trade accounts.

Furthermore, China’s decision to expand the purposes of visa-free entry to Hainan for passport holders of 59 eligible countries, starting in February last year, led to a 115.6 percent year-on-year surge in inbound tourists in 2024.

Yangpu Port in Hainan has registered 52 international vessels, solidifying its position as the country’s second-largest port in terms of tonnage.

The province has also secured approval to become China’s first digital processing trade zone, where activities such as data processing for exports are in progress, and it has launched more than 260 games targeting international players.

Looking ahead, Feng said that Hainan will continue to optimize measures for trade and investment liberalization, promote institutional opening-up and foster a top-notch market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment.

The Hainan Free Trade Port, whose structure is recognized as delivering advanced openness, is also the world’s largest in terms of area and population, boasting more than 10 million residents.

Facing the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, the FTP is located at the intersection of the two most dynamic markets, Southeast Asia and the Chinese mainland, Feng said, adding that China’s massive market of 1.4 billion people offers substantial advantages to the development of the FTP.

Hainan has also forged partnerships with 38 domestic and foreign free trade zones and ports as part of its effort to enhance exchanges and collaboration with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, Feng said.

Notable collaborations include sister port agreements between Yangpu Port and the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi Ports, cooperation between Haikou Meilan International Airport and Singapore Changi Airport, joint efforts on a green low-carbon international demonstration project by Hainan Holdings and Singapore’s CapitaLand Investment, and the establishment of the China-Europe (Baoting) Green and Digital Innovation Zone in Hainan.

Meanwhile, Hainan is also actively integrating into major national and regional strategies, including a unified national market. It is intensifying its connections with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, advancing in tandem with Guangdong province, promoting the integrated development of Qiongzhou Strait ports and shipping, and propelling the development of the Guangdong-Hainan advanced manufacturing industrial park.

“In the future, Hainan will continue to deepen cooperation with sister provinces and cities to establish a gateway for Chinese enterprises to go global and achieve higher-level, higher-quality regional coordinated development,” Feng said.

the Snake Bridge located in Guocang Village, Longtang Town, Qiongshan District, Haikou. Built during the Ming Dynasty, this brick and stone structure spans a stream, with the passage of time leaving deep marks on its surface.

This bridge not only serves as a passage connecting both banks but also stands as a witness to local history and culture. It plays a crucial role in water management, and the legends of guardianship associated with it have become a spiritual bond that unites the community.

Today, villagers near Snake Bridge are actively engaged in cultural and tourism entrepreneurship. Folk inns and creative shops have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, integrating into the wave of cultural tourism development. They have become part of Hainan’s distinctive tourism routes, attracting domestic and international visitors to experience the unique blend of history and modernity.

The marine engineering team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University conducted extensive evaluations on a range of marine equipment at the test site, such as instruments for monitoring the marine environment, seafloor mining vehicle prototypes and unmanned surface vessels, reported Hainan Daily on Tuesday.

The team successfully carried out a variety of experimental tasks, including the observation of dynamic conditions of marine winds, waves and currents, assessment of the functions of intelligent marine devices, accurate positioning and navigation of submersible equipment, and surveillance of disturbances in the seabed environment.

The team leader disclosed that the successful completion of these sea trials has thoroughly confirmed the site’s ability to perform real-time observations of the marine dynamic environment, and to conduct tests of marine equipment within a three-dimensional marine testing zone that encompasses the surface, the underwater environment and the seabed.

The team leader also noted that this achievement represents a significant advancement in the development of the test site and underscores its evolution into a crucial maritime testing base in China.

As spring ushers in a new season, the kapok trees across the county gradually awaken, transforming various locales into picturesque havens of natural beauty.

Notable destinations to experience this floral extravaganza include the secluded Wangxia town, Qicha town, Pai’an village in Chahe town, and Wulie town, each showcasing its own distinct flowering timeline.

Changjiang, renowned as the “hometown of kapok flowers”, shines brightest between February and March when the landscape is adorned in the resplendent hues of kapok blossoms.

To enrich the tourism experience for visitors, the county has curated a series of engaging events from January to March, encompassing a blend of tourist attractions, cultural showcases, and sporting activities.

Visitors yearning to capture the enchanting sight of a train meandering through a sea of kapok blossoms can visit Pai’an village this Sunday for an unforgettable spectacle, according to the Changjiang Converged Media Center.

Cycling enthusiasts can also enjoy leisurely biking trails through the serene countryside and rugged mountain parks while immersing themselves in the floral magnificence.

These companies are permitted to engage in value-added telecommunications activities such as internet access and information services in accordance with the approval, according to the MIIT on Friday.

“Most of the 13 foreign-invested enterprises approved for the pilot program are affiliates of well-known multinationals, such as Airbus, Siemens, Deutsche Telekom and HSBC. The pilot businesses include internet access, internet information services, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These developments will offer Chinese consumers a more diverse range of telecommunications products and services, further stimulating market vitality,” said Zhang Chunfei, deputy director of the policy and economic research institute of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

Data shows that by the end of February 2025, there are over 2,400 foreign-invested telecommunications companies operating in China, marking a 30 percent year-on-year increase.

“The further opening up of value-added telecom services will enable pilot areas to lead in aligning their rules, regulations, management and standards with international practices. It will also accelerate the development of more mature, replicable, and scalable models, advancing the opening-up process in due course,” Zhang added.

Last October, the MIIT launched a pilot program to expand opening-up in value-added telecom services in four designated areas in Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan and Shenzhen.

It allows foreign investors to operate wholly-owned businesses, such as internet data centers, and engage in online data processing and transaction processing within designated areas. They can also gain greater access to China’s cloud computing service and computing power service markets.

Co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan provincial government, this year’s expo will feature expanded international participation and first-time innovations.

Aligning with China’s innovation priorities, the expo will highlight sectors such as artificial intelligence, low-altitude aviation, smart vehicles and digital health. Tech leaders like Huawei, iFLYTEK and Tesla will showcase cutting-edge solutions.

The main venue remains the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center this year, with additional duty-free shopping zones in international duty-free complexes in Haikou and Sanya. A yacht exhibition will also be held in Sanya.

Newcomers to the event will include delegations from Slovakia, Brazil and Singapore. Multinational giants such as U.S.-based Estée Lauder and Germany’s Volkswagen will also be among this year’s exhibitors.

Domestic exhibitors will present premium and local products, and a section of the expo will be dedicated to connecting foreign buyers with Chinese manufacturers through tailored investment matchmaking.

The CICPE is China’s only national-level exhibition featuring consumer products, and it is the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific region.