The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 is being held in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, from Sunday to Wednesday under the theme of "A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation."

As the host of the Boao Forum, Hainan undertakes exchanges and cooperation with countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

On April 13, 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a decision to build the whole island of Hainan into a pilot free trade zone (FTZ), gradually exploring and steadily promoting the establishment of a free trade port (FTP) with Chinese characteristics. He made the announcement at a gathering celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of Hainan Province and the Hainan Special Economic Zone. It accorded Hainan an unprecedented development opportunity.

Hainan is a vital node on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and on the forefront of China's integration with Southeast Asian countries. It also has been participating in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, ecological and environmental protection, and cultural exchanges with countries and regions along the route.

From 2013 to 2020, Hainan's total imports and exports of goods increased from 15 billion yuan (about $2.4 billion) to 93.3 billion yuan (about $13.5 billion). The actual use of foreign direct investment increased from $1.8 billion to $3 billion.

On October 16, 2018, a general plan for the Hainan pilot FTZ was rolled out. The plan calls for creating a new system of an open economy, developing modern services industry, promoting international cooperation under the Belt and Road framework, and accelerating the functional transformation of the local government in a more supportive way.

On June 1, 2020, a master plan mapping out a timeline for the construction of the Hainan FTP was released. Per the plan, customs clearance at the FTP will begin by 2025, and by 2035, the FTP will optimize open policies and fully realize free and convenient flows of trade, investment, capital, personnel, transport and data. 

Given its geographical advantage and strategic mission, Hainan is an ideal ground for piloting an FTP with zero tariffs and low tax rates.

The master plan has laid out a series of special policies for Hainan, such as scrapping import duties, lowering income tax rates for high-level talents and enterprises, and relaxing visa requirements for tourists and business travelers.

For instance, the plan calls for extending zero tariffs from enterprises to consumers. The measures include raising the annual duty-free shopping quota for travelers to 100,000 yuan, and expanding the categories of duty-free goods.

In addition, the idea is to have low tax rates. By 2025, enterprises registered and operating in Hainan shall be entitled to corporate income tax at a reduced rate of 15 percent. Incomes from new overseas direct investment derived from enterprises in tourism, modern services and high-tech industries registered in the FTP shall be exempted from corporate income tax.

Moreover, for high-level talents and talents in short supply, the portion of their actual individual income tax burden exceeding 15 percent will be exempted.

In Singapore, the corporate tax rate is 17 percent, and the personal income tax rate is capped at 22 percent. In China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, corporations are taxed at 16.5 percent and the personal income tax rate is capped at 17 percent. Hainan's goal is to cap both at 15 percent.

Furthermore, introduction of talents is another salient feature of the plan.

Foreign nationals who declare on their own or are invited can enter Hainan visa-free.

Overseas colleges of science, engineering, agriculture and medicine can establish independent educational services in Hainan. At the same time, Hainan welcomes world-class universities to run schools in cooperation with Chinese institutions.

In its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), Hainan proposed to further participate in the construction of the Belt and Road, and promote cooperation among countries and regions along the route, especially in areas of aviation, trade, finance, education, technology, culture, health and wellness, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Script and data editor: Zhao Hong

Video editor: Chen Haomin

Animation & graphics: Xu Qianyun, Yu Peng, Du Chenxin

Voiceover & copy editor: John Goodrich

Chief editor: Wu Gang

Project managers: Wang Kailin, Dang Zheng

Producer: Si Nan

Supervisor: Zhang Shilei