Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum (WEF), said the new special customs operation in the Hainan Free Trade Port comes as no surprise, as it represents a major milestone in China's high-level opening-up, a process that has already brought dramatic improvements to the country.

China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area in December 2025, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.