Foreign affairs activities aid Hainan's economic growth

"With the advantages of Hainan's foreign affairs resources, we explored the 'foreign affairs plus business plus market' model in our foreign exchange activities", said Wang Sheng, head of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, during an interview on Dec 30. 

"We have seized opportunities such as provincial leaders' visits and important foreign guests' visits to promote Hainan Pilot Free Trade Zone (Port) and deepened the integration of foreign affairs with economic activities", he added.

In October last year, a total of 27 companies from South Korea settled in the Window to Global Trade in Haikou as a result of concerted efforts.

In 2019, Hainan received visits from more than 20 groups of foreign officials at deputy ministerial level and above. Provincial leaders participated in more than 130 foreign affairs events, covering more than 50 countries on five continents. The island province also saw 48 group visits from the embassies and consulates of 91 countries, and the organization of 76 international conferences.

According to Wang, thanks to the construction of the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Zone and the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Port with Chinese characteristics, the province has sent a strong signal to the international community that it is seeking to continue to strengthen international cooperation.

Making foreign affairs activities serve economic and social development has been a major task for the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, said Wang. 

During the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Meeting 2019, the office explored new methods to promote foreign investment, like using beautiful Shamei and Nanqiang villages as venues for provincial leaders' foreign affairs meetings, investment tea meetings to boost funding and increasing the exposure of beautiful villages.

To further serve the province's investment promotion work, the office set up an international economic cooperation office and a special working group to provide foreign businesses with convenient services. It has made a great contribution to creating a world-class business environment, attracting foreign investment and helping local companies go global.

A view of Vjvodina autonomous province in Serbia, which forged sister regions relations with Hainan in March 2019. [Photo/dfoca.hainan.gov.cn]