China has formally launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port, a move widely viewed by international observers as a fresh demonstration of the country’s commitment to high-standard institutional opening up. The initiative is expected to further integrate China’s vast domestic market with global trade flows and create new opportunities for economies across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Responding to a question from Shenzhen TV, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Hainan’s transformation reflects China’s long and evolving reform trajectory. From its establishment as a special economic zone to the latest rollout of comprehensive customs operations across the island, Hainan has consistently played a pioneering role in China’s reform and opening-up process.
According to Lin, the goal of developing the Hainan Free Trade Port to high standards has been formally incorporated into the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, adopted at the fourth plenary session. This, he noted, underscores the strategic importance attached to Hainan as a key gateway for China’s high-level opening to the outside world.
At a time when the global economy is facing mounting uncertainties, China’s approach, Lin emphasized, is to respond with concrete actions rather than retreat into protectionism. China is delivering on its commitment to openness by steadily expanding market access, reducing barriers, and fostering an open world economy.
He highlighted that China’s negative list for foreign investment access has continued to shrink, while restrictions on foreign participation in the manufacturing sector have been completely removed. In addition, China has granted zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent of tariff lines to all least developed countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Beijing. Visa-free entry policies and visa-free transit arrangements have also been further upgraded to facilitate cross-border exchanges.
These measures, Lin said, are already producing tangible results. From January to November this year, China established more than 60,000 new foreign-invested companies, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.9 percent. During the same period, China’s total trade in goods surpassed RMB 41 trillion, marking a 3.6 percent increase compared with the previous year. These figures reflect the resilience and vitality of China’s trade sector and its growing attractiveness to global markets.
Lin further noted that China continues to expand both the breadth and depth of its opening-up, reinforcing its position as a major magnet for international investment and trade. The Hainan Free Trade Port, in this context, is expected to play an increasingly important role as a platform linking China with global supply chains and investment networks.
Looking ahead, Lin pointed out that the recent Central Economic Work Conference identified staying committed to opening up and promoting win-win cooperation across various sectors as one of the key tasks for the coming year. China, he said, will open even wider and generate more development opportunities for international partners.
The continued advancement of the Hainan Free Trade Port and broader opening-up policies is expected to inject fresh momentum into global economic growth and contribute to shared prosperity at a time when international cooperation is more critical than ever.
Disclaimer
This article is based on official statements and publicly available information. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or policy advice. Views expressed by officials are reported as stated and do not represent the independent position of the publisher.
