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Hainan's 1st consumer expo since launch of special customs operations highlights richer shopping experiences

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Hainan's 1st consumer expo since launch of special customs operations highlights richer shopping experiences

2026-03-30 17:02 Last Updated At:03-31 12:20

The sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), the first since the official launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port, is set to offer a significantly enriched consumption experience, according to officials at a press conference held Monday in Beijing.

Bateer, executive vice governor of south China's Hainan Province and a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, highlighted the province's efforts to build a multi-tiered duty-free consumption system. This initiative aims to transform duty-free shopping from a "specific scenario" to "daily consumption."

"Duty-free consumption has become more affordable. The categories of offshore duty-free goods have expanded to 47 major types. Domestic products such as shoes, hats, scarves, clothing, tea, coffee, and ceramic products can now also be sold in duty-free shops," said Bateer.

The expo itself is intensifying its efforts to invite global buyers and will organize a series of specialized supply-demand matchmaking sessions. Exhibitors participating in the expo will benefit from lower transportation costs and more professional services following the independent customs operations.

"Consumption scenarios are becoming richer. The Boao Lecheng international medical tourism pilot zone has introduced over 560 types of specially approved medical devices and special foods. This year's CICPE has also set up a dedicated sub-exhibition area for international health consumption, allowing consumers to more intuitively understand these cutting-edge health products and medical services," said Bateer.

The sixth CICPE, jointly hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan provincial government, will be held in in Haikou, capital city of Hainan from April 13 to 18. More than 3,400 brands from over 60 countries and regions will participate in the event.

Hainan's 1st consumer expo since launch of special customs operations highlights richer shopping experiences

Hainan's 1st consumer expo since launch of special customs operations highlights richer shopping experiences

More than 1,000 coal mines in China have adopted intelligent systems, as their application expands from pilot projects to large-scale deployment, the China National Coal Association said recently.

Statistics show that by the end of 2025, a total of 1,066 coal mines nationwide have introduced smart systems, with such technologies now supporting more than 65 percent of the country's coal production capacity. The number of autonomous mining trucks in operation surpassed 4,000 units, roughly doubling on an annual basis.

The rapid adoption of smart mining is driven by robust domestic capabilities in intelligent equipment and technology. In Beijing, a newly deployed underground Internet of Things (IoT) precision positioning and management system links workers, positioning cards and operating zones, while also enabling health monitoring. Its core technologies and components are fully domestically developed and have been applied in coal mines and coal preparation plants. "This underground positioning system we've developed has a positioning deviation of less than 20 centimeters when a person or device is stationary. Even when a person or device is moving at high speeds, the margin of error remains minimal. A single device can cover a radius of 800 meters," said Wu Fengdong, general manager of China Coal Beijing Coal Mining Machinery Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the state-owned China National Coal Group Corporation.

Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), cumulative investment in smart mining has exceeded 107.1 billion yuan (about 15.6 billion U.S. dollars), with intelligent technologies now widely applied, accelerating the shift from traditional mining to modern, technology-driven extraction.

Over 60 pct of China's coal production capacity uses smart technology by end of 2025

Over 60 pct of China's coal production capacity uses smart technology by end of 2025

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