CGTN Poll: Hainan Free Trade Port and China's wider opening up

December 18 is set to become another date of great significance in China's historical progress. Forty-seven years ago on this day, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee made the historic decision to launch the reform and opening-up policy; on the same day this year, island-wide special customs operations will be initiated at the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), marking a new stage in China's high-standard opening up. Reform and opening up, known as China's "second revolution," continues to profoundly transform China and the world.

According to a CGTN poll surveying global audiences, about 92.2 percent of respondents believe that building the Hainan FTP is a landmark move for China to expand high-standard opening up and foster an open global economy. Meanwhile, 93 percent consider the Hainan FTP will become a crucial gateway for China's new round of opening up.

Once the operations start, the entire Hainan island will become a special customs supervision zone governed by a liberalization and facilitation policy framework characterized by "freer access at the first line, regulated access at the second line, free flow within the island." 

The proportion of tariff lines with zero-tariff products in the Hainan FTP will increase from 21 percent to 74 percent, covering about 6,600 product categories, including almost all production equipment and raw materials. Among the respondents, 93.6 percent believe this will further reduce production costs for enterprises and enhance their market competitiveness. Moreover, the tariff exemption policy allows imported products that undergo at least 30 percent value-added processing in Hainan to enter the mainland tariff-free. A total of 91.5 percent of respondents think this will further facilitate global products entering the Chinese market.

Currently, Hainan FTP has the nation's shortest negative lists for foreign investment access and cross-border trade in services. Some 88.7 percent of respondents believe this will provide favorable conditions for global enterprises to enter the Chinese market. Additionally, 91 percent agree that preferential policies regarding tariffs, market access and taxation are continuously enhancing Hainan FTP's appeal as an investment destination and a springboard into the vast Chinese market. Furthermore, 91.5 percent are optimistic about China's supersize market, believing it will offer more cooperation opportunities for all countries.

Promoting reform and development through opening-up has been a successful practice in China's reform journey. About 92.2 percent of respondents agree that China's further comprehensive deepening of reform and high-standard opening up are mutually reinforcing. Another 88.1 percent believe that China's continuous efforts to advance institutional opening up in rules, regulations, management and standards, along with fostering a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, will inject more momentum into global economic recovery and growth. 

Against the backdrop of counter-currents in globalization and rising trade protectionism and unilateralism, 92.4 percent believe China's development of the Hainan FTP demonstrates its determination and confidence in safeguarding economic globalization. Meanwhile, 92.1 percent look forward to China elevating its open economy to a larger scope, wider areas and deeper levels.

This poll was conducted across CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, attracting 4,190 respondents to vote and share their views within 12 hours.