China remains committed to developing the Hainan Free Trade Port as a key gateway for international investment, inviting global enterprises to tap into the country's growth opportunities, according to Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday.
Han made the statement in addressing the 2025 Global Industrial Investment Promotion Conference for the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), which opened on Monday in Haikou City, capital of Hainan Province.
The conference comes at a pivotal moment as Hainan prepares to implement full customs closure operations this year, marking a new phase in China's high-level opening-up strategy.
Recalling the important instructions given by Chinese President Xi Jinping during last December's inspection tour, Han noted that after seven years of development, Hainan has emerged as a new frontier for China's opening-up, an important platform for regional and mutually beneficial cooperation, and a new driving force in advancing economic globalization.
Han highlighted that China remains committed to promoting high-quality development through high-standard opening-up. The Hainan FTP prepares to implement island-wide customs closure operations this year, which demonstrates China's firm determination and practical efforts to expand openness and actively advance economic globalization.
China will continue to provide vast opportunities and development space for global investors, steadfastly advance the construction of the Hainan FTP and create first-class business environment with enhanced services, Han said.
Han also extended a warm invitation to international investors in his speech, encouraging them to invest in China and the Hainan FTP to capitalize on the country's growth prospects.
Jointly organized by the Hainan Provincial Government and the Ministry of Commerce, the conference serves as one of the key events in the 2025 "Invest in China" series. Under the theme "Invest in Hainan, Connect with the World," the gathering showcases the Hainan FTP's construction achievements, business environment and investment opportunities to global investors.
Approximately 3,000 participants are attending the three-day event, including government representatives, domestic and foreign-funded enterprises, and chambers of commerce delegates from home and abroad.
In April 2018, China announced a decision to develop Hainan into a pilot free trade zone while gradually exploring and steadily promoting the establishment of an FTP with Chinese characteristics. In June 2020, a master plan was rolled out to build the island into a globally influential and high-level FTP by the middle of the century.
Seven years on, Hainan has built a policy framework centered on "free and convenient trade, investment, cross-border capital flows, personnel mobility and transportation, and the safe and orderly flow of data," and an FTP system underpinned by features like zero tariffs, low tax rates, and simplified tax systems.
Official statistics show that by the end of 2024, the province was home to 9,979 foreign-funded enterprises, with 77.3 percent established after June 2020. The number of countries and regions investing in Hainan has jumped from 43 in 2018 to 174 in April 2025.
China vows to advance Hainan FTP as global investment hub: vice president
