23 April 2018
Hainan Set for Free Trade Zone and Free Port Status
Hainan is to be transformed into both a Pilot Free Trade Zone and a Free Trade Port, with the province set to expand its tourism remit, while also opening-up to the wider world on a more general basis. The plans for the island’s strategic development were jointly issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on 11 April this year, with the date marking the 30th anniversary of its accession to Special Economic Zone status.
Overall, this state-level initiative will see the island take on four distinct roles:
Pilot Free Trade Zone
Following an accelerated programme of reform and opening-up, the island will function as one of China’s key gateways, fully exploiting its strategic access to the Pacific and Indian oceans
Pilot National Ecological Zone
With the province seen as China’s “garden”, enhanced efforts are to be made to maintain its natural ecological balance, with the island acting as a model for environmentally-friendly developments across the mainland
International Tourism Centre
In line with this, there will be a renewed focus on establishing the island as a high-end, global tourism destination, with world-class facilities and an expanded range of visitor attractions
National Strategic Logistics Zone
In order to deliver on this, the province will become more closely aligned with China’s national development strategies, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the country’s ambitions to become a significant international maritime trading force
Timeline
In order to deliver on these four strategies, the development plan will roll-out on a three-stage basis:
2020
Significant progress made on establishing both Pilot Free Trade Zone status and achieving high degree of opening-up to the outside world
2025
Initial phase of Free Trade Port system in place, with widespread adoption of high-level, national-standard business environment
2035
Free Trade Port system enters mature phase, while business environment acknowledged as world-class
For further details in Chinese, please refer to the following link:
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