Beijing, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Wang Changlin, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, stated at a press conference of the State Council Information Office on July 23 that the specific time for the closure of Hainan Free Trade Port has been approved by the Party Central Committee and is scheduled to officially launch on December 18, 2025.
On December 18, 1978, the Third Plenum of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China embarked on a great journey of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. The launch of the closure operation on December 18 had important symbolic significance and demonstrated to the world China's unwavering determination and confidence in expanding high-level opening up. "Wang Changlin said," In the next few months, we will make urgent preparations to help business entities fully understand the closure policy and carry out relevant business tests
Wang Changlin stated that the closure of customs refers to the establishment of a special customs supervision area on the entire island of Hainan, and the implementation of a liberalization and facilitation policy system with the basic characteristics of "opening up the 'first line', controlling the 'second line', and allowing freedom within the island". Opening up the "front line" means treating Hainan Free Trade Port as a "front line" with other countries and regions outside China's customs territory, and implementing a series of free and convenient entry and exit measures; Controlling the 'second line' means treating the relationship between Hainan Free Trade Port and the mainland as a 'second line', and implementing precise management for the content that has been opened up in the 'first line'; Freedom within the island refers to the relatively free circulation of various factors within the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Sealing off is not about sealing off the island, but about further expanding opening up. After sealing off, the connection between Hainan and the international community will be more convenient, "said Wang Changlin. According to the current design of the sealing system, except for some goods that need to be inspected when entering the mainland from Hainan Free Trade Port, most goods and all personnel, goods, transportation vehicles, etc. entering and leaving Hainan Island will still be managed according to current regulations, and there will be no changes before and after sealing off. Everyone who goes on business trips or travels to Hainan Island does not need to apply for additional documents, just like now.
Wang Changlin stated that in order to avoid the impact of opening up measures implemented on the "first line" on the mainland market, precise management is needed on the "second line", which mainly involves three types of goods: "zero tariff" goods, goods that enjoy value-added processing policies, and goods that have relaxed trade management measures.
The closure of the entire island is a new starting point for the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, "said Wang Changlin. In the next step, in accordance with the deployment of the" Overall Plan for the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, "we will work with Hainan Province and relevant departments to continuously improve the policy and institutional system that is compatible with high-level free trade ports, adhere to goal oriented and problem oriented approaches, and continue to accelerate the pace of opening up to the outside world.