Opinion: Hainan Can Be China’s New Benchmark for Global Openness

As the Hainan Free Trade Port prepares to launch its islandwide customs-sealing operations, it sends a message to the world of China’s unwavering commitment to high-level opening. The public has every reason to expect Hainan to set a new standard for China’s next phase of global integration.

The blueprint for the Hainan Free Trade Port is becoming a reality. Chinese authorities recently announced that the island will initiate its customs-sealing operations on Dec. 18, 2025, a milestone accompanied by a cascade of supporting policies. An official from the National Development and Reform Commission has stressed that this project is not about sealing off the island, but about opening it further. After the customs closure, Hainan’s connection to the world will become even more convenient, accelerating the influx of high-quality global resources, promoting high-quality development, and paving the way for the nation’s broader reform and opening. This vision must be realized — not only by implementing existing policies on schedule, but also by relentlessly exploring new frontiers of institutional openness to create a model that can be replicated and promoted elsewhere.