Hainan FTP offers gateway for Int'l companies to enter China: expo attendees

International officials and business representatives have hailed the opportunities afforded by south China's island province of Hainan, which is now home to the world's largest free trade port by area and is this week playing host to the sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), saying it serves as a great entry point for global firms to break into the vast Chinese market.

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 the opportunities offered by Hainan.

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.

Business representatives and officials attending the expo highlighted its significance as an accelerator for economic cooperation between China and various regions around the world, and shared their optimism about the future development of the Hainan FTP.

"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 special customs operations last year. We met with the governor of Hainan Province a few days ago. He shared with us the goal of building Hainan into a globally influential free trade port by 2050. We are greatly impressed by this vision," said Sebastian Ciemnoczolowski, Marshal of the Lubuskie Voidodeship (province) in Poland.

Under the Hainan FTP, the "first line" linking Hainan with overseas markets allows most imported goods to enter tariff-free with faster clearance, while the "second line" between Hainan and the mainland applies standard customs oversight.

Juan Jose Munoz Coronado, chief health officer of Spanish pharmaceutical and wellness company Bechi, said his company has benefited from the move, which has allowed it to expand business in China.

"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 a 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," he said.

Coronado also highlighted the growing ties between China and Spain which have further strengthened business confidence, after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrapped up a five-day visit to the country on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Jesus Abia, managing director of L'Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific, noted the tropical island province was already considered a prime destination for tourism and had a reputation for hosting luxury brands, with the launch of the island-wide special customs operations injecting "new momentum" to the Hainan market.

"Hainan I think is way more than just an international shopping destination. I think it's one of the best beauty and luxury experiences that you can have in the world. One of our objectives is we want to reinvent the beauty retail for the next generation of travelers. And I think the best place to do it is Hainan. I think since they announced the new policy, it's true that we have a new momentum in Hainan, because the market is coming back to growth, which is very good news for the industry," said Abia.

Hainan FTP offers gateway for Int'l companies to enter China: expo attendees

Israel aims to fuel division among Lebanese factions by holding direct talks with the Lebanese government, said a senior Hezbollah official in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Bilal Lakkis, a member of Hezbollah's Central Committee, said Israel's military plans are failing in southern Lebanon, with no prominent military gains despite weeks of bombardment.

Israel has been bombarding most bridges over the Litani River, leaving only about two intact, in what appears to be an attempt to create an expanded buffer zone or to advance further north. Asked how Hezbollah views this strategy, Lakkis dismissed Israeli objectives as incoherent and militarily unachieved.

"Every day one of Israel's leaders says something different. Some say 'we need protection from the attacks', others say they want an occupation to settle the Israeli military. A third group says they want a buffer zone. A buffer zone needs a huge military victory, which has not been achieved. This proves that there is hesitance among them, there is no clarity. In any case, the region south of the river, some parts of it are just three kilometers between the river and the occupied Palestinian territories, so it doesn't achieve security," he said.

The United States hosted political talks for the first time in decades between the Lebanese government and Israel this week. Asked whether any agreement could be implemented without Hezbollah's consent and what Israel seeks from these negotiations, Lakkis was unequivocal in his rejection.

"The government is violating all laws. Some in Lebanon had hopes that the war on Iran would hit the brain, all the affiliates would perish. Instead they found success in holding negotiations in Pakistan. Every time Netanyahu fails militarily, he attempts to fuel the division within the Lebanese body," he said.

Asked about whether Hezbollah would avoid actions that might fuel such divisions, Lakkis emphasized the group's commitment to internal stability.

"The resistance in Lebanon doesn't want any internal instability. That is a long-standing historic stance. It's a red line for us to tamper with peace and stability. Moreover, the Arab and the Islamic support towards the resistance and Hezbollah specifically is at its best. To resist that is a way more valuable gain than to be dragged against an internal party. We are keen on national unity and Islamic unity," he said.

Hezbollah official says Israel aims to fuel division among Lebanese factions