Hainan FTP to become important gateway of China's high-standard opening up: spokesperson

BEIJING, Dec. 23 -- The Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will become an important gateway of China's high-standard opening up, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday.

Lin made the remarks at a regular news briefing when answering a question about China's recent launch of the island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP.

From the establishment of Hainan special economic zone in 1988 to the most recent launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP, Hainan has left a deep mark in the course of China's reform and opening-up. To "develop the Hainan FTP to high standards" is written into the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the CPC for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, Lin said.

In the face of growing uncertainties in global economy, China's response is to deliver its commitment of opening up with concrete actions, to fight protectionism with firm resolve, and promote an open world economy, he said.

China's negative list for foreign investment access has shrunk, restrictions of access for the manufacturing sector has been brought down to naught, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines has been granted to all least developed countries (LDCs) that have diplomatic ties with China, and visa-free policy and visa-free transit have been upgraded, he said.

From January to November this year, China has seen the establishment of over 60,000 new foreign-invested companies, up 16.9 percent year-on-year. Total trade of goods exceeded 41 trillion yuan (about 5.81 trillion U.S. dollars), up 3.6 percent year-on-year. China has continued to step up the width and depth of its opening up and to demonstrate the resilience and vitality in trade, Lin said.

The spokesperson said the recent Central Economic Work Conference has identified staying committed to opening up and promoting win-win cooperation in various areas as one of the major tasks for next year, adding that China will open even wider, generate even more development opportunities and inject new momentum for global common prosperity.