HAIKOU, China, May 20, 2025 — A recent report from the Hainan International Media Center details an important event:
On May 19, the 2025 China Hainan Free Trade Port-UAE Promotion Conference was successfully hosted in Dubai. The event drew over 250 representatives from government and free trade zones in the UAE and Hainan, along with business leaders and media personnel. The agenda centered on the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, focusing on sectors like new energy, finance, biopharmaceuticals, healthcare, and agarwood. This initiative aims to significantly bolster the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port as an innovative platform for economic and trade relations between China and the UAE.
During the opening remarks, Feng Fei, the Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, reaffirmed the province’s dedication to establishing a free trade port characterized by a market-driven, legal, and international business environment, emphasizing “zero tariffs, low tax rates, and a streamlined taxation system.” He also stressed that Hainan aims to deepen its collaboration with the UAE in the realms of digital economy and green energy. Chinese Ambassador to the UAE, Zhang Yiming, acknowledged that the open policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port align closely with the UAE’s “50-Year Development Plan,” and that cooperation between both sides is set to establish a new standard for China-Middle East economic and trade collaboration.
Abdulla Al Saleh, the Under-Secretary of Foreign Trade and Industry at the UAE Ministry of Economy, indicated that the UAE would engage with the financial liberalization and cross-border trade facilitation policies of the Hainan FTP and explore innovative cooperation models in advanced fields like artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. Additionally, Dr. Ali M. Al-Khouri, the Secretary-General of the UAE Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, along with Marwan Al Marri, Regional Director for Asia at the Dubai Chambers, and Omar Al Muhairi, Senior VP of Government Affairs at DP World Group, expressed optimism regarding the collaborative potential between the UAE and the Hainan FTP.
At the conference, the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development elaborated on the advantageous policies and development prospects related to the Hainan FTP. Furthermore, representatives from the Hainan Provincial Financial Supervision and Administration Bureau and the Danzhou Municipal Government presented thematic discussions highlighting pilot initiatives for financial openness, cross-border capital flows, and new investment opportunities within the Danzhou-Yangpu Economic Circle. To promote bilateral collaboration, representatives from Mingyang Group, Qilu Pharmaceutical, Mellser International Medical Center, and the Hainan Agarwood Industry Association provided insights into Hainan’s unique industries, specialty products, and strategies for entering the Middle Eastern market.
During the meeting, Hainan entered into four strategic cooperation agreements with businesses from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, focusing on areas such as new energy, logistics parks, automobile trade, and headquarters establishment. A business negotiation session followed, allowing representatives from over 100 Chinese and Arab firms to engage and lay the foundation for future partnerships.