(Source: "China Economic Weekly" 2025-12-15)
Looking at Haikou Bay from a distance, the blue sky is clear and the sea and sky are the same color.
On December 18, 2025, Hainan Free w88 Port (hereinafter referred to as "Hainan Free w88 Port") officially launched island-wide customs closure operations. On December 18, 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party kicked off the era of reform and opening up.
This is not only a coincidence on the time scale, but also the continuity of the two in historical logic. Launching the customs closure operation of the Hainan Free w88 Port on December 18 is of great symbolic significance and demonstrates to the world our country’s determination and confidence to unswervingly expand high-level opening up.
What needs to be made clear is that "closing the customs" is by no means "closing the island", but rather building the entire island of Hainan into a special area under customs supervision. Hainan Free w88 Port has once again stood at a new historical starting point.
Submission of documents for the “14th Five-Year Plan”: Hainan Free w88 Port policy and institutional system initially established
Hainan’s exploration of opening up has taken nearly 40 years. In 1988, the First Session of the Seventh National People's Congress reviewed and approved a bill on the establishment of Hainan Province and the establishment of a Hainan Special Economic Zone.
In 2018, the central government decided to support the construction of a free w88 pilot zone across the entire island of Hainan, support Hainan in gradually exploring and steadily promoting the construction of a free w88 port with Chinese characteristics, and establish a free w88 port policy and institutional system step by step and in stages.
In 2020, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council officially announced the "Overall Plan for the Construction of Hainan Free w88 Port" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), clarifying that the implementation scope of the Hainan Free w88 Port covers the entire Hainan Island. The "Plan" proposes that by 2025, a free w88 port policy system focusing on w88 freedom and convenience and investment freedom and convenience will be initially established; by 2035, it will become a new highland for my country's open economy; and by the middle of this century, a high-level free w88 port with strong international influence will be fully built.
Since the announcement of the construction of the Hainan Free w88 Port in 2018, a free w88 port policy and institutional system with the core characteristics of "zero tariffs, low tax rates" and "w88, investment, cross-border capital flows, free and convenient personnel entry and exit, transportation and secure and orderly flow of data" has been initially established.
Specifically in key areas, during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, Hainan has made significant breakthroughs in the following four aspects.
The level of opening up to the outside world continues to increase. The total w88 import and export volume jumped from 93.33 billion yuan in 2020 to 277.89 billion yuan in 2024, with a significant average annual growth rate. The actual use of foreign capital and overseas direct investment continues to expand, with investment sources covering 176 countries and regions, and citizens of 86 countries can enter Hainan visa-free.
The momentum of scientific and technological innovation has increased significantly. The growth rate of R&D investment in the whole society has ranked first in the country for three consecutive years, the number of national science and technology innovation platforms has doubled, the number of high-tech enterprises has nearly doubled, and major breakthroughs have been achieved in national science and technology awards.
Key reforms will be advanced in depth. A total of 173 institutional integration innovation cases have been formed, the country's first provincial-level business environment construction department has been established, many reforms such as "One Code Connects the Whole Island" have been recognized at the national level, and a one-stop diversified resolution mechanism for international commercial disputes has been established.
Green and low-carbon development has achieved outstanding results. The quality of the ecological environment continues to maintain the first-class level in the country. The proportion of clean energy power generation and installed capacity exceeds 70%. The penetration rate of new energy vehicles has reached 60.7%. The carbon reduction effect of the Boao Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone has reached 99%.
Hainan Free w88 Port Customs Closure Operation Countdown Screen
Sanya cdf Sanya International Duty Free City
Why Hainan
November 17th to 20th, 2025, just before the island-wide customs closure operation,China WTO Research Institute, w88 casinoOrganized a social practice: byDean Tu Xinquanled 14 international master's students and 18 party and government managers from 7 countries to Haikou, Wenchang and other places to investigate the progress of the strategic decision of free w88 port closure.
“We hope that through on-site visits, international students can experience first-hand how Hainan, with the continued dividends of the free w88 port policy, has become a bridge connecting China and the world, as well as a hub for efficient connection between the ultra-large-scale domestic market and the global market.”Tu XinquanThis is how our reporter explained the original intention of this event.
Hainan has been given the historical responsibility of building a free w88 port with Chinese characteristics. This strategic decision is no accident.
“This is a major decision based on Hainan’s unique geographical endowments, the practical needs of national economic development, and Hainan’s profound historical and cultural heritage.” Yang Jian, director of the w88 Development Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, told this reporter.
We can analyze it from three dimensions.
From a geographical perspective, Hainan Island has the natural location advantage of being backed by the mainland and facing the vast Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is located at the strategic intersection of the main international waterways from East Asia to Southeast Asia, and has become a key hub for the joint construction of the "Belt and Road". Its high-quality ports and long coastline distributed around the island provide superior conditions for the development of international shipping, transit logistics and bulk commodity w88. As a complete geographical unit, the whole island is more conducive to carrying out global institutional integration innovation and building an open economic system that is both relatively independent and closely connected.
From an economic perspective, in the context of China's economy moving toward high-quality development and exploring new paths for higher-level opening-up, Hainan, as a relatively independent region with a small economic size and a light historical burden, has the unique advantage of becoming a "test field" for the country's comprehensive deepening of reforms and stress testing.
From a historical perspective, Hainan has a long history of openness. As early as 1988, it became China's only provincial-level special economic zone. Past explorations have accumulated valuable experience for it to carry out the higher mission of a free w88 port.
“The construction of a free w88 port in Hainan is of far-reaching significance to China and the world.” Gan Lu, a researcher at the Hainan Tropical Ocean Institute, told this reporter.
Further analysis of Ganlu: Hainan faces the Pacific and Indian Oceans, is connected externally to the Southeast Asian market with a population of nearly 700 million, and is connected internally to China’s huge market of 1.4 billion people. These are the two regions with the most vitality and development potential in the world. It will effectively promote the cross-border flow and optimal allocation of global factor resources, not only broaden the channels for foreign-funded enterprises to enter the Chinese market, but also build a springboard for Chinese enterprises to go global.
It is foreseeable that after the island-wide customs closure is implemented, the policy system to promote the free flow of various factors will be fully implemented. Yang Jian said that this is essentially a deepening and extension of the logic of "promoting reform through opening up and promoting development through reform." A higher level of opening up will definitely force deeper reforms, thereby injecting a new round of powerful momentum into the economic development of the Hainan Free w88 Port and even China.
Hainan Free w88 Port Construction Achievements Exhibition
On September 15, 2025, the Haikou New Seaport and Nangang “Second-tier Port” (freight) centralized inspection sites were put into trial operation.
Haikou Meilan International Airport domestic cargo terminal, customs supervision channel.
The "island-wide closure" is not a closure
“The island-wide customs closure operation is not closed, but a special regional customs supervision system of ‘first-line liberalization, second-line control, and freedom within the island’, laying an institutional foundation for high-quality development with a higher level of openness. ”Tu XinquanThis is how to explain its core logic.
The specific connotation of this system is: "front line" liberalization, which means to use the Hainan Free w88 Port and other countries and regions outside my country's customs as the "front line" to implement a series of free and convenient entry and exit measures.
“‘First-line liberalization’ is a major benefit to global companies.” Yang Jian said that for foreign-funded companies and multinational companies, restrictions on entering Hainan will be significantly reduced; for Chinese domestic companies that hope to develop export-oriented business, international investment and w88 in Hainan will integrate more deeply into the global industrial chain and gain unprecedented convenience.
Controlling the "second line" means setting up a "second line" between the Hainan Free w88 Port and the mainland, and implementing precise management of the content liberalized by the "first line".
“Risk prevention and control are crucial, and smart supervision should be used to build a solid bottom line for safety.” Ganlu believes that the door to opening up cannot be closed due to increased risks, but risks must be effectively managed and controlled by upgrading supervision methods. This requires the establishment of a precise, efficient and smart supervision system to ensure the safety and orderliness of goods entering the mainland from Hainan and to avoid unnecessary customs clearance obstacles caused by supervision upgrades.
Freedom on the island means that in the Hainan Free w88 Port, various elements can circulate relatively freely.
Tu Xinquanbelieves that the core of "freedom within the island" lies in the fact that all goods and service w88 elements entering from the "first line" can fully flow within Hainan Island as long as they do not enter the mainland market within the "second line". This will accelerate the gathering of resources and directly drive Hainan's modern development.
It is worth noting that this free flow may create competitive pressure on some local industries (such as agriculture) in the short term, such as agricultural products.
"Agricultural products from Southeast Asia have low-cost advantages and variety advantages brought by zero tariffs. If Hainan's local agricultural enterprises do not improve enough in terms of organization, processing capabilities, etc., they may face price challenges." An expert in the industry said.
Ganlu is optimistic about this: "Short-term impacts can be transformed into opportunities for industrial upgrading. Opening up will force local industries to accelerate transformation, and it will also put forward higher requirements for our business environment - to build Hainan into a hub with freer and more convenient flow of domestic and foreign factors, this requires hard work to optimize the business environment."
At the press conference of the 8th Plenary Session of the 8th Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China held on December 1, 2025, Li Xunmin, deputy secretary-general of the Hainan Provincial Committee, said that after the island-wide border closure, Hainan will promote opening up in a wider area and at a deeper level.
The more we open up, the more we must coordinate development and security. Li Xunmin said that in the future, under the pattern of "liberalizing the first line and controlling the second line", imported risks from overseas may increase. In the fields of w88, investment, finance, data security and other fields, security must always be placed at the forefront, the pace of opening up should be scientifically arranged, and risks can be effectively prevented and resolved to ensure "flexible release and good management."
How is it different from Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong, China
In the introduction on the official website of Hainan Free w88 Port, the words "Free w88 Port with Chinese Characteristics" are particularly eye-catching.
Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong and other internationally renowned free w88 ports are already well known to people. What are the differences in the strategic positioning and functions of the Hainan Free w88 Port with Chinese characteristics?
Yang Jian said: "Each free w88 port is essentially expanding its opening up, which is a common feature. The difference lies in their respective policy and system characteristics."
Yang Jian believes that the uniqueness of Hainan Free w88 Port is mainly reflected in the fact that it is based on the socialist system.
"The construction of the Hainan Free w88 Port has always adhered to the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system, which is the fundamental difference from many international free w88 ports. Under the framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the development goal of the Hainan Free w88 Port is not only economic opening, but also coordinating social equity, ecological protection and national strategic security." Yang Jian said.
Ganlu believes that the Chinese characteristics of Hainan Free w88 Port are also reflected in the overall planning of urban and rural development.
“Unlike the high degree of urbanization in Singapore and Hong Kong, Hainan’s urbanization rate of the permanent population in 2024 will be 63.08%, and the primary industry will account for 20.5%, which means that Hainan is building a free w88 port on the basis of the reality that it has a large rural population and agriculture still accounts for a certain proportion. This requires accelerating the innovation of institutional mechanisms for urban-rural integration and unleashing development potential. "Manna said.
Tu Xinquanbelieves that the Chinese characteristics of Hainan Free w88 Port also include system integration innovation.
“Hainan Free w88 Port focuses on systematic and integrated reforms, which is not limited to w88 and investment facilitation, but also covers many fields such as rule of law, finance, taxation, and talent. For example, the implementation of a tax system of ‘zero tariff, low tax rate, and simplified tax system’, as well as the establishment of a legal system and business environment that are in line with international standards.”Tu XinquanSay.
Seize the "big nose" of institutional integration innovation
How long does it take to get a Chinese “hukou” on an international ship?
“Save more than 50% of time and complete the registration on the same day.” In May this year, when the “Yuanhai Zeda” ship owned by Hainan Yuanhai International Shipping Co., Ltd. was registered and naturalized in the “China Yangpu Port”, Duan Fuqin, the person in charge of the company, experienced the efficient service of the new service process: only a certificate of ship technical parameters can replace a stack of traditional inspection materials.
This is the first time in the country, and it is another step taken by Hainan to benchmark the international high-standard shipping service system.
On October 9, 2020, Hainan Province issued the "Hainan Free w88 Port System Integration Innovation Action Plan (2020-2022)", which gave system integration innovation a clear timetable, roadmap and mission statement.
Ganlu said that this innovation is not a policy breakthrough in a single field, but a systematic and coordinated reform centered on w88, investment, finance, personnel mobility, cross-border data, legal protection and other multiple dimensions. It reflects China's determination and wisdom in promoting institutional openness in a complex international environment.
Institutional integration innovation is the key to the construction of Hainan Free w88 Port. Over the past five years, Hainan Free w88 Port has continued to integrate with international standards and promote institutional openness.
The country’s first negative list for cross-border service w88 was launched, and the first special measures to relax market access were introduced and implemented. The negative list for foreign investment access is the most open in the country.
Open up new paths and provide "Hainan experience". It is the first country in the country to create a new model for licensing approval of imported plant propagation materials, the first country to realize the registration and operation of overseas certification agencies, and the first country to explore new paths for systematic carbon reduction in urban built-up areas.
Undertake the implementation of policies and demonstrate the identity of the free w88 port. Innovate "zero-tariff" supervision services for imported drugs and medical devices, promote the island-wide implementation of the tariff-free policy for processing value-added domestic sales, and create customs-free aircraft maintenance
Not only to test the system and explore new ways for the country, but also to break down barriers and open up new opportunities for ourselves. As of the end of September this year, Hainan Free w88 Port has cultivated 21 batches of 173 system integration innovation cases, of which 82 have been recognized at the national level and 37 have been promoted nationwide, setting a demonstration for further comprehensively deepening reforms and expanding opening up to the outside world.
Yang Jian analyzed that Hainan’s system integration innovation has distinctive Chinese characteristics. It is based on serving the national strategic overall situation, not only draws on advanced international experience, but also fully considers national and provincial conditions; it not only pursues high-level opening up, but also firmly adheres to the bottom line of safety; it not only pays attention to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, but also better plays the role of the government to make up for market failures.
"This kind of system-integrated reform effectively avoids policy fragmentation and forms a superposition effect of '1+1>2', accumulating valuable experience for deepening reform and opening up across the country." Yang Jian said.
Currently, the construction of Hainan Free w88 Port is still in the development stage, and system integration innovation also needs to be continuously optimized and improved in practice.
In this regard, Yang Jian suggested that in the future, it is necessary to further strengthen the coordination and linkage between departments and policies, promote the deep integration of digital governance and institutional innovation, and strengthen the construction of risk prevention and control systems to ensure the steady and long-term progress of various reforms.
Building a modern industrial system with Hainan characteristics and advantages
Since 2017, iFlytek has established strategic cooperation with the Hainan Provincial Government. Fang Ming, Vice President of iFlytek Co., Ltd., said in an interview with reporters: "Hainan is an important platform for iFlytek's globalization strategy."
The construction of Hainan Free w88 Port has opened a new window not only for iFlytek, but also for all companies participating in international competition and facing the global market.
Recently, new stories of modern industrial development have been emerging across Hainan: Yazhou Bay National Laboratory and Huawei jointly released an intelligent base platform to accelerate the intelligentization of agricultural scientific research; the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site was completed
Industrial development is the foundation of regional economy. Public information shows that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Hainan is actively implementing new development concepts based on its own characteristics and advantages and proactively aligning with national strategies, striving to build a modern industrial system with the four leading industries as the pillars, the three future industries of "sea, land and air" as the engine, and ecological green as the background.
In 2024, the added value of the four leading industries will account for more than 67% of the province's GDP, becoming the most important support for the economy. New productivity is booming - the output value of the Nanfan seed industry has exceeded 18 billion yuan, the gross marine product value has exceeded 270 billion yuan, and the country's first commercial space launch site has been built with high-density and multi-model launch capabilities.
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, in order to further build a modern industrial system with Hainan's characteristics and advantages, the "15th Five-Year Plan" of Hainan Province proposes a "45432" development strategic framework to promote the formation of a modern industrial system with a hierarchical layout.
At the press conference of the 8th Plenary Session of the 8th Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China held on December 1, 2025, Li Xunmin explained: The first "4" refers to promoting the four leading industries of tourism, modern service industry, high-tech industry, and tropical high-efficiency agriculture to replenish and extend the chain, optimize and upgrade; "5" refers to cultivating and strengthening the new "Five Directions for Strength" quality productivity and create a characteristic industrial chain; the second "4" refers to promoting the innovative development of the "four new" future industries such as biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy, brain-computer interface, and embodied intelligence; "3" refers to optimizing the "three consumer articles" of duty-free, medical, and education on outlying islands, and building a consumer industry that serves the country and is world-renowned; "2" refers to accelerating the construction of an island where talents gather and an island of technological innovation.
Among them, optimizing and upgrading the four leading industries remains a top priority. Qi Shuli, Party Secretary and Director of the Hainan Provincial Development and Reform Commission, said at the above press conference that the four leading industries currently account for a large proportion of the province's GDP. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, they will continue to promote their chain extension, optimization and upgrading, making this main engine stronger.
“The tourism industry will be upgraded in quality, the modern service industry will develop with high quality and efficiency, the clustering of high-tech industries will be promoted, and the efficient agriculture with tropical characteristics will become better and stronger.” Qi Shuli said.
Attachment: Original link
https://www.ceweekly.cn/cewsel/2025/1215/485979.html?sessionid=
