Hainan Free Trade Port strengthens role as gateway for high-level opening-up

Hainan will continue advancing institutional opening-up and strive to establish itself as a crucial gateway leading China's high-level opening-up in the new era, according to the province's top official.

Feng Fei, Party secretary of Hainan, emphasized the importance of developing "two bases" — one serving Chinese enterprises expanding globally and the other helping foreign companies access the Chinese market.

Hainan's negative list for foreign investment is the shortest in the country, Feng said, extending a warm welcome to international investors.

Feng made the comments when answering a question posed by China Daily at a news conference in Beijing on Saturday during the ongoing two sessions.

On Dec 18, Siemens Energy became the first foreign-invested enterprise to complete registration after receiving its business license at the Yangpu administrative service center in Danzhou. The company simultaneously broke ground on a new gas turbine assembly base and service center, a project it described as its first project of its kind in China.

The move marked a milestone manufacturing project demonstrating investor confidence, and came as Hainan launched island-wide special customs operations on the same day.

In 2025, Hainan's actual use of foreign capital grew by 19.9 percent, outpacing its GDP growth. The number of new foreign-funded enterprises increased by 13 percent after Hainan launched island-wide special customs operations, data from the government showed.

Foreign trade structure also improved significantly, with total service imports and exports surging 22.1 percent, far exceeding goods trade growth. Over 10,000 additional business entities benefited from the "zero-tariff" policy.

Hainan received 1.5 million inbound visitors in 2025, a 35.2 percent increase, while visa-free entries jumped 64 percent. Yangpu Port in Hainan ranked second nationwide in registered international shipping tonnage.

Feng also outlined plans to enhance industrial chain connectivity, better integrate into the national unified market, deepen cooperation with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and strengthen international collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in tropical agriculture and digital trade.

Feng said the province will continue promoting deeper international cooperation to better connect with global resources.