Haikou, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) — Huang Yonghong, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce and full-time Deputy Director of the Provincial Port Office, stated on the 14th that during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, the Hainan Free Trade Port will focus on planning the construction of one new open port, expanding the opening of two existing open ports, and innovatively deploying three “second-tier ports” in line with regional economic development needs.
The Hainan Provincial Information Office held a press conference on the 14th to interpret the recently released “Hainan Free Trade Port Port Management Service Regulations (Trial)” and “Several Provisions on Credit Management for Customs Clearance at ‘Second-Tier Ports’ in the Hainan Free Trade Port” (referred to as the “Regulations” and “Several Provisions,” respectively).
The “Overall Plan for the Construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port” proposes establishing a “first tier” between the Hainan Free Trade Port and other countries and regions outside the customs territory of the People’s Republic of China, and a “second tier” between the Hainan Free Trade Port and other regions within the customs territory of the People’s Republic of China.
Hainan currently has eight open ports, including the Haikou Port and Yangpu Port, which also serve as “second-tier ports.” Additionally, there are two standalone “second-tier ports”—Haikou Xinhaigang and Haikou Nangang—bringing the total to ten “second-tier ports.”
Huang Yonghong noted that the eight open ports in the Hainan Free Trade Port are operating well, and the construction, acceptance, and operational management models of the ten “second-tier ports” are gradually taking shape. The “Regulations” fill the legal gap for “second-tier ports,” providing clear legal guidance for their construction, management, operation, and services.
Building a high-level Hainan Free Trade Port relies on efficient port operations, high-quality services, and robust support. Lin Chonggao, Deputy Director of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Hainan Provincial People’s Congress, stated that the “Regulations” require the establishment of a collaboration mechanism between open ports and “second-tier ports” for customs clearance. They also mandate optimizing the methods and processes for goods and item declarations, inspections, transit of personnel and goods, tax procedures, and visa processing for personnel entry and exit, reducing clearance times and enhancing convenience. The “Regulations” also optimize the customs clearance model for “second-tier ports,” stipulating that management activities such as animal and plant quarantine inspections, quality and safety inspections of agricultural products leaving the island, and fee collection or exemptions be conducted outside the “second-tier ports.”
Additionally, the “Regulations” explicitly promote the intelligent construction of ports, accelerating digital transformation and smart upgrades to achieve cross-departmental service integration through the Hainan International Trade “Single Window” and supporting fully paperless customs clearance. They also call for building a smart supervision system for “second-tier ports,” enabling information sharing, mutual recognition of supervision, and mutual assistance in law enforcement among various departments and units. Special customs clearance service mechanisms will be established for major events such as international conferences and sports competitions, with enhanced coordination for emergencies to ensure efficient linkage in clearance procedures.
The Hainan Free Trade Port is set to achieve island-wide customs closure operations soon, at which point the ten “second-tier ports” will be activated. Huang Yonghong emphasized that Hainan will leverage the policy, geographical, and industrial advantages of the Free Trade Port, align with regional economic characteristics and development needs, clarify port functional positioning, promote the coordinated development of “ports + industries,” expand high-value-added business formats, further stimulate port economic vitality, and elevate overall development capabilities. (End)
