China's resort island gains momentum amid reform, opening-up

HAIKOU -- As night falls in Yangpu, south China's Hainan Province, diners at Le Pont d'Or enjoy not only exquisite cuisine but also a breathtaking view of a big bridge spanning a distant bay, seen through large windows.

"When I came to Yangpu two years ago, I couldn't even find a decent place for a cup of coffee," recalled Marco Cheung from Hong Kong, who runs the French-style restaurant. However, with the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) gaining steam, he sensed the potential for business opportunities and opened the restaurant.

In less than two years, Le Pont d'Or has become a must-visit eatery in Yangpu. And more and more fancy establishments have emerged, transforming the landscape of the coastal area, now a pioneer and demonstration area for the FTP.

Yangpu was designated a national-level economic development zone in 1992 and is home to the largest cargo seaport and the most extensive industrial clusters in Hainan, China's southernmost province. However, due to the absence of a corresponding urban development plan, it lacked the hustle and bustle of a city for a long time.

Rapid and profound changes occurred with the establishment of the Hainan FTP, a pivotal stride in the nation's commitment to comprehensively deepening reforms and expediting institutional opening up.

In 2020, China released a master plan to build the whole of Hainan Island into a globally influential and high-level FTP by the middle of the century.

Since then, many favorable policies, including zero tariffs and eased market and foreign investment access, have been rolled out to support the development of the Hainan FTP.

Randy Floyd, hailing from the United States, arrived in Hainan six years ago. The local policies proved to be so advantageous that he soon decided to establish a company in Haikou, capital of Hainan.

"I had no idea how long to stay in China or Hainan, but seeing the rapid progress of the free-trade port and all the policies, the free flow of people, information and money, I want to stay here for as long as possible," said Floyd.

"The government is very supportive, and also the innovation parks here are very supportive to help companies with everything they might need to do," he said. "All the processes here are very streamlined."

In the first half of this year, Hainan saw the establishment of 732 foreign-invested companies, up 3.5 percent year on year. The actual use of foreign capital totaled 13.37 billion yuan (about 1.88 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 23.3 percent. During the first six months, 63 countries and regions invested in Hainan.

Meanwhile, the favorable policies have boosted Hainan's foreign trade. The total trade volume in goods exceeded 200 billion yuan in 2022, with an annual growth rate of 36.8 percent.

By the end of July this year, the total value of imported goods under the FTP's zero-tariff policies had exceeded 18 billion yuan.

The island is also a paradise for shoppers. From January to November, 6.23 million shoppers purchased duty-free products worth over 40 billion yuan on the island, up over 26 percent year on year, according to the customs of Haikou.

Over 300 types of imported medicine and medical equipment have been approved for use at the Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Boao, a town near the island's east coast. The pilot zone received 189,000 medical tourists last year, up nearly 50 percent year on year.

Reforms have also extended to environmental initiatives. As a national ecological civilization pilot zone, Hainan has undertaken six landmark projects, including the National Park of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest which led to the discovery of at least 28 new species.

Yu Tao, a Hainan FTP researcher at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, believes that the comprehensive and deepened implementation of reform and opening-up policies, particularly those regarding the FTP, have boosted the confidence of market players and the public.

The construction of the FTP has also enhanced Hainan's international reputation. "For example, Hainan has opened up wider to the outside world through international forums such as the Boao Forum for Asia and the China International Consumer Products Expo," Yu said.

"The Hainan FTP is poised for even greater achievements in the future," he added.