South China's tropical island province of Hainan, now a key frontier for China's high-standard opening-up following the official launch of the island-wide special customs operations last December, has set up a multilingual government service hotline to better serve foreign investors.
Known as Hainan 12345, the hotline currently offers support in five foreign languages, including English, Korean and Russian.
Linked to the Hainan Free Trade Port International Services Portal, the platform delivers multilingual online services for foreign-invested enterprises and foreign individuals, ranging from policy briefings and consultations to administrative services.
Jered, a U.S. entrepreneur running a business in Hainan, recently sought advice on hiring foreign staff for his firm. He turned to the Hainan 12345 government service hotline for assistance.
Through a single phone call, the operator walked him through the relevant procedures and requirements.
The hotline is now fielding a growing number of such foreign-language inquiries.
"Since Hainan launched island-wide special customs operations, our hotline has handled 486 requests through its foreign-language service, with a completion rate of 99.59 percent and an actual satisfaction rate of 95.77 percent among respondents. We have also incorporated these requests into the system, improving how we handle, resolve and follow up on their inquiries," said Wang Dahai, deputy director of the hotline's management center.
China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area, on Dec 18 last year, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.
The move is widely seen as a landmark step in China's ongoing efforts to promote free trade and expand high-standard opening-up at a time of rising protectionism worldwide.
China's Hainan uses multilingual hotline to better serve foreign investors
