On the morning of February 26, a group interview was held in Haikou for domestic and foreign journalists participating in the China Travelogue: Hainan FTP Experience for Global Journalists event. Jointly organized by the All-China Journalists Association and the Information Office of Hainan Province, the event has welcomed over 30 journalists from foreign media outlets, including the Financial Times (UK), the Irish Times, O Globo (Brazil), Lianhe Zaobao (Singapore), Tokyo Shimbun (Japan), and Hankook Ilbo (South Korea), to Hainan to witness firsthand the achievements of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).
Officials from Hainan’s provincial government and Party agencies, including the Publicity Department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, the Office of the Working Committee for the Free Trade Port, the Development and Reform Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Finance, and the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, attended the briefing. They provided an overview of the high-standard construction of the Hainan FTP, the latest progress in island-wide special customs operations, and achievements to date, and later answered journalists’ questions.
Wang Bin, Member of the Standing Committee and Director-General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, reported that since the implementation of island-wide special customs operations two months ago, all corresponding policies have been implemented smoothly and operated efficiently. In terms of operational effectiveness, trade in goods has shown steady growth, with market entities continuing to converge on Hainan. Following the expansion of the “zero-tariff” goods range to approximately 6,600 tariff lines—74% of all goods categories— Hainan has become one of the most cost-effective and efficient channels for global goods to enter the Chinese market, with island-departure duty-free shopping experiencing soaring popularity. Meanwhile, import duties are exempted for goods produced by encouraged industries that contain imported materials or have an added value of at least 30% upon entry to the Chinese mainland via the “second line.” This policy has succeeded in attracting enterprises in high-end manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, aviation maintenance, ship repair, and other sectors to establish operations in Hainan, driving the industrial chain toward higher-value segments. Currently, 176 countries and regions have invested in Hainan, and nationals of 86 countries enjoy visa-free access. The number of newly registered market entities has seen significant growth post the island-wide special customs operations, positioning Hainan as a strategic pivot for global capital to access the Chinese market.
Regarding which key industries the FTP is targeting for investment promotion after the launch of special customs operations, Jiang Hong, Deputy Director-General of the Hainan Development and Reform Commission, stated that Hainan will focus on its four pillar industries: tourism, modern services, high-tech industries, and high-efficiency tropical agriculture. In 2025, the added value of these industries totaled approximately 532 billion yuan, accounting for 67% of the province’s GDP. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), Hainan will strengthen specialized industrial chains in seed breeding, marine, aerospace, green, and digital sectors, lay the foundations for future industries such as biomanufacturing and hydrogen energy, optimize consumption in duty-free, healthcare, and education sectors, and launch the One Million Talents Revitalizing Hainan initiative.
Zhang Yueqiang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Hainan Province, outlined policies to attract foreign enterprises and investors to Hainan. In 2025, the FTP made steady progress in these areas. 2,549 foreign-funded enterprises were established in the province, a year-on-year increase of 23.2%, while paid-up foreign capital reached 25.103 billion yuan, up 19.9% year-on-year. Looking ahead, the provincial government will continue to expand opening-up, promote the liberalization and facilitation of investment, establish a financial system that enables free, efficient, and secure cross-border capital flows, improve the island’s service system, and continue to optimize the business environment.
Following the group interview, the media delegation embarked on a tour of Haikou, Danzhou, Qionghai, and other locations to gain an in-depth understanding of the progress of special customs operations and the potential for industrial investment cooperation, and to experience Hainan’s openness and vitality firsthand.