The Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China is set to significantly expand its list of zero-tariff goods as part of the island-wide special customs operations, which is about to start on Dec 18.
Under the new taxation policy, Hainan FTP will expand its list of zero-tariff goods imports from 1,900 items, to over 6,600 items. With the launch of the special customs operation, products entering Hainan under zero-tariff policy will account for 74 percent of all taxable items, up from the current 21 percent.
Authorities will also extend the preferential 15-percent income tax rate for talents in high demand, as well as eligible companies investing and operating in Hainan, especially those in green energy, cutting-edge technology and modern services.
This new taxation system in the southern Chinese island province is built on the principle of "freer access at the first-line, regulated access at the second line, and free flow within the island."
It is seen as a major step to enhance Hainan's connectivity with the global economy. Freer access at the first-line allows Hainan to open up to international markets, enabling the flow of goods between the island and foreign countries.
Regulated access at the second line ensures that goods entering the Chinese mainland from Hainan are subject to domestic regulations, with additional duties applied as necessary.
Free flow within the island introduces more liberal trade and investment policies within Hainan, creating a highly favorable business environment.
Over the past five years, Hainan has utilized actual foreign investment of 102.5 billion yuan (14.47 billion U.S. dollars), with an average annual growth rate of 14.6 percent, attracting investment from 176 countries and regions. This positive trend is expected to gain more steam after Hainan begins special customs operations.
In recent years, Hainan's foreign trade has demonstrated strong growth momentum. In 2024, the total volume of Hainan's goods imports and exports reached 277.65 billion yuan -- up 20 percent year on year and nearly 200 percent from 2020.
Hainan to expand zero-tariff goods imports
A forum on human rights protection in the Chinese path to modernization, was held at Guangzhou University in south China's Guangdong Province on Saturday, bringing together more than 80 experts and scholars of political science and law from leading Chinese universities.
Attendees held in-depth discussions on topics such as "Building China's Independent Knowledge System of Human Rights," "Criminal Law Issues and Human Rights Challenges in the Digital Age," and "Protecting the Rights and Interests of Minors."
During the event, participating experts said that China has developed its own approach to protecting human rights as the country continues to modernize.
"China's approach to human rights protection diverges from the Western path. One of ours is comprehensive cooperation, demonstrated through initiatives like common prosperity, rural revitalization, and Chinese modernization. I believe we must encourage more young people to engage in the development of human rights in China, whether through theoretical research or practical contributions," said Liu Zhiqiang, a professor at the Institute for Human Rights at Guangzhou University. Other scholars emphasized that protecting the human rights of China's 1.4 billion people is a foundational element of the country's modernization, evoking insights from classical Chinese philosophy.
"Chinese modernization is, first, modernization on a massive population scale. Despite the vast size of China’s population, we are committed to ensuring that every individual is respected and that the human rights of all are protected. The principle of 'Benevolence is to love all people' from Chinese philosophy offers profound insight for the world in understanding human rights—emphasizing care, respect for others, and a balanced appreciation for both the rights of others and oneself," said Dong Yanbin, a research fellow at Southwest University of Political Science and Law.
The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October put forward proposals to advance the development of human rights. The forum in Guangdong aimed to lay a pathway for the implementation of the proposals and contribute to the improvement of the human rights protection system in China.
Forum on Human Rights Protection in Chinese Modernization held in Guangzhou
