The ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in south China's island province of Hainan has been lauded by international participants as a significant opportunity to accelerate economic cooperation with China.
The six-day expo, which will run in the provincial capital of Haikou through Saturday, has gathered representatives from more than 3,400 brands from over 60 countries and regions worldwide.
Since its launch in 2021, the CICPE has become an important platform for multinationals to stay abreast of consumer trends in China, and many attendees are also now looking to tap into growing opportunities afforded by Hainan as a gateway into the vast China market.
A significant development for the island province came late last year, when the Hainan Free Trade Port launched fully island-wide special customs operations, making it the world's largest free trade port by area.
China has also stressed efforts to advance high-level opening up and promote high-quality development as part of its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), a key blueprint mapping out the country's development priorities for the coming years.
As part of these plans, Hainan is working work at a rapid pace to build a globally competitive tax system and plans to expand the scope of zero-tariff goods as part of the reform, as well as introducing a positive list for inbound goods consumed by island residents, and further lowering tax rates.
With the current expo in progress, Sebastian Ciemnoczolowski, the marshal of Poland's Lubuskie Voidodeship (province), said all these developments underscore Hainan's pivotal role as a strategic gateway for multinational corporations seeking entry into the expansive Chinese market.
"From our perspective, the Chinese consumer market and this year's Hainan Expo are highly significant, serving as a window to the global open market. Our local enterprises are eager to expand into Asia, especially the Chinese market, covering sectors such as food, cosmetics, and furniture. The expo provides an excellent platform, and we will further strengthen cooperation with China in the future. China's new Five-Year Plan is also crucial for us, particularly its policies on opening wider to the outside world and boosting trade. Hainan Free Trade Port launched the special customs operations last year. We met with the governor of Hainan Province a few days ago, he shared the goal of building Hainan into a globally influential free trade port by 2050. We are greatly impressed by this vision," he said.
Meanwhile, Juan Jose Munoz Coronado, chief health officer of Spanish pharmaceutical and wellness company Bechi, highlighted the practical benefits Hainan offers for foreign enterprises.
"Hainan is a tax-free zone, which is very beneficial for import and export. It is also tremendously important for foreign companies that we can enter China without difficulty and at lower cost. Our company has been in China for 10 years. Previously, our sales were online, but currently we can achieve physical sales in China. This is a very positive development for us and for other companies that want to introduce their products through Hainan. The Chinese market is spectacular -- it is very broad and large, and it allows companies like ours to have more opportunities in the global market," he said.
Munoz Coronado also noted that high-level diplomatic engagement between China and Spain -- including visits by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia last November and multiple trips by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, including one which wrapped on Wednesday -- has been instrumental in strengthening bilateral bonds.
These strong ties have bolstered the confidence of Spanish firms already operating in China, encouraging them to expand their footprint, he said.
"Moreover, the relationship between our country, Spain, and China is splendid. This week, our prime minister is on an official visit to China. In fact, he has already come several times, and each of his visits has strengthened the bilateral relationship. We are very happy to participate more actively because of these agreements reached between the two nations," he said.
Hainan serves as bridge for global enterprises to enter vast China market: int'l expo participants
