President Xi Jinping calls on Hainan to write new chapter in advancing Chinese modernization

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged China's southernmost province of Hainan to strive toward writing a new chapter in advancing Chinese modernization.

President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks after listening to work reports from the CPC Hainan provincial committee and the provincial government on Tuesday afternoon.

Xi commended Hainan's achievements in various areas of its work and put forward clear requirements for the province's work in the future.

He urged the province to focus closely on its strategic positioning as a pilot zone for the comprehensive deepening of reform and opening-up, as a national pilot zone for ecological conservation, as an international tourism and consumption destination, and as a service zone for major national strategies.

Efforts should be made to develop a modern industrial system that leverages Hainan's distinctive features and strengths, and to shore up and extend industrial chains of leading industries such as tourism, modern services, high-tech, and tropical high-efficiency agriculture and to promote their optimization and upgrading, he said.

Stressing that reforms in key areas should be pushed forward in a solid manner, Xi said Hainan should benchmark against international high-level economic and trade rules, vigorously promote systematic opening up and create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.

Xi called for making the Hainan Free Trade Port an important gateway driving China's opening up in the new era.

He said the Hainan Free Trade Port should strengthen exchanges, cooperation and functional docking with free trade parks in countries and regions that have jointly built the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi emphasized the need to continuously promote cultural literacy among the public and foster social etiquette and civility, calling for the effective preservation, use and passing down of historical, revolutionary, maritime and folk cultural resources.

He underlined comprehensive efforts to enhance the people's well-being and social governance, calling for refining public service systems in urban and rural areas, enhancing the national social security system, and strengthening employment and entrepreneurship support for key groups.

Noting that New Year's Day and Spring Festival are approaching, Xi said governments at all levels should ensure that necessities, such as "rice bags" and "vegetable baskets," are in ample supply and ensure production.

Companies in Hainan are already benefiting from a "zero tariff" policy on imported production equipment, vehicles and raw materials.

Hainan is also accelerating efforts to become a world-class travel destination. In 2023, tourism revenue in Hainan grew by over 70 percent.

(With input from Xinhua)