China’s Hainan Free Trade Port is stepping into the spotlight as a global trade powerhouse, with its upcoming customs closure operation marking a new era of high-level economic openness. 🚀 Over the past five years, this tropical island has transformed into a beacon of innovation, attracting investments from 158 countries and regions while partnering with 38 free trade zones worldwide. 💼
📈 The numbers speak volumes: Hainan’s trade imports/exports hit 277.65 billion yuan in 2024, up 20% year-on-year, with exports smashing the 100-billion-yuan milestone for the first time. Foreign investment growth has averaged 36% annually since 2018, proving its magnetic appeal to global businesses.
ASEAN nations are key players in this story, with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members accounting for 30% of Hainan’s trade. 🌴 The port’s tropical agriculture and tech sectors are thriving, while its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partnerships surged 41.5% last year, strengthening ties across 60+ economies.
🔓 Post-customs closure, Hainan will adopt a 'tariff-free, low-tax' model, streamlining cross-border trade and data flows. Analysts say this could redefine global supply chains, making Hainan a bridge between China’s domestic market and international partners.
From palm-fringed beaches to boardroom deals, Hainan is writing a new playbook for 21st-century globalization—one coconut-infused innovation at a time. 🥥💡
Reference(s):
Hainan Free Trade Port demonstrates China's high-level opening-up
cgtn.com