Launch of special customs operations in Hainan 'no surprise' in China's opening-up drive: WEF president

The launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port comes as no surprise, as it represents a major milestone in China's high-level opening-up -- a process that has already brought dramatic improvements to the country, said Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area in December 2025, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.

Speaking in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) ahead of the WEF's 2026 annual meeting, Brende emphasized the significance of this step in the context of rising global trade protectionism.

He pointed to opening-up as the driving force behind China's profound transformation over recent decades, expressing confidence that the country will continue to advance its opening-up policy.

"I'm not surprised that China does this because the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you're likely to see. And if you look at the opening-up of the Chinese economy starting in 1979, then China was 2 percent of the global GDP in the late 1970s. Today, China is 20 percent of the global GDP, so there is a track record for that the reforms and opening-up of China's economy has strengthened China's economy, created jobs. It has eradicated poverty. The society has changed because the economy has opened up. It has been a success to open up the economy, so that's why I think China is also continuing to do so," he said.

Launch of special customs operations in Hainan 'no surprise' in China's opening-up drive: WEF president

The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Mao made the remarks in response to a media query about the reports that the Israeli parliament recently adopted a new law introducing death penalty for Palestinians, and countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed strong condemnation, saying such practice is "entrenching a system of apartheid."

"All legislation must conform to legal principles such as the principle of legality, fairness and justice, and must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality or political view. The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected. Relevant party’s actions that escalate tensions and exacerbate confrontation must stop," said Mao.

Palestinian people's legitimate rights must be respected, protected: Chinese FM spokeswoman