Seminar on “Building an Important Opening-up Door Toward the World: Hainan Free Trade Port as a National Strategy” Held in Haikou

On April 13, 2025, marking the 7th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s April 13 Speech and the 37th anniversary of the establishment of Hainan Province and its designation as a Special Economic Zone, China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD) hosted the seminar on “Building an Important Opening-up Door Toward the World: Hainan Free Trade Port as a National Strategy” in Haikou. The event was organized by the Hainan Institute for Free Trade Port Studies (HIFTPS), with nearly 300 participants from government departments, universities, research institutes, and enterprises in attendance.

Professor Chi Fulin, President of CIRD and HIFTPS, delivered a keynote speech. He emphasized that building an important opening-up door toward both the Pacific and Indian Oceans represents a major national strategy and a historic responsibility for Hainan. The independent customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port is a concrete step toward achieving this strategic goal. It is expected to play a special role in supporting China’s response to the U.S.-led trade war and contribute significantly to the country’s high-level opening-up.

Professor Chi also proposed that Hainan be considered as the host venue for the APEC Summit in 2026, which would inject new momentum into the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port following the independent customs operations, significantly enhance its level of internationalization, and demonstrate China’s firm commitment to high-level opening-up.

The seminar was co-organized by Hainan Reform and Development Research Foundation and CIRD-GRANDALL Center of FTP Law Studies.