The value of zero-tariff goods imported through customs supervision of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) reached 360 million yuan (about 51 million U.S. dollars) on Thursday, the first day of the island-wide special customs operations.
According to official statistics released by the Haikou Customs, major imports through the "first line" of the customs system included crude oil and aviation equipment.
Duty-free goods sold to China's mainland through the "second line," under the policy allowing products with an added value of 30 percent or more during processing, totaled nearly 14.69 million yuan (about 2.1 million U.S. dollars) on the day.
The policy resulted in tariff exemptions of 808,000 yuan (114,750 U.S. dollars), with major products including medical devices, pharmaceuticals and food.
China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP, the world's largest FTP by area, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures.
The "first line" refers to Hainan's connection with overseas markets. Meanwhile, the "second line" denotes the customs boundary between the island and China's mainland.
Officials describe the two-tiered special customs system as "freer access at the first line," referring to freer trade between Hainan and areas outside China's customs border, and "regulated access at the second line," which means maintaining standard customs controls for China's mainland.
And, three international vessels completed registration at the port of registry at the Yangpu Port in the tropical island province.
Hainan FTP logs smooth cargo flows on 1st day of special customs operations
Efforts are underway in Gaza City to salvage what remains of the territory's cultural heritage after nearly two years of war.
At the ruins of the Great Omari Mosque, Gaza's oldest and largest mosque, Palestinian workers have been clearing and sorting stones dating back more than 1,200 years using basic tools.
"The Great Omari Mosque represents the heart and soul of Gaza City, and Palestine as a whole. The value of these stones is not in their size, but in their deep and layered historical significance," said Husni Al-Mazloom, manager of the Great Omari Mosque restoration project.
Only fragments of the mosque's minarets and a few of its external walls remain standing.
"During the war, it was not only people, trees, and buildings that were targeted, but also thousands of years of human history. Most historical sites in Gaza City were struck and destroyed in an attempt to erase the historical identity of Gaza's people," said Palestinian historian Ayman Al-Balbisi.
Progress on the restoration project has been extremely slow, as Israel continues to restrict the entry of construction materials, even after nearly eight weeks of ceasefire.
On a positive note, however, the project provides locals with more income.
"Before working here, we were unemployed. When this opportunity became available for me and 20 other workers, it allowed us to provide for our families and cover basic needs. During the war, there was no work available for us at all," said worker Ali Al-Qaloushi.
Palestinians have accused Israel of deliberately targeting heritage sites. But Israel denied, saying its strikes followed international law and targeted Hamas tools near or beneath these locations.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has verified damage to 145 religious, cultural and historical sites in Gaza since October 2023, raising fears of irreversible loss in a territory whose history spans more than 5,000 years and carries the imprint of numerous civilizations.
Gazans race to preserve cultural heritage after two years of war
