The 2026 "China Walk: Vibrant Hainan" joint media tour for ASEAN media partners kicked off in Sanya, south China's island province of Hainan, on October 19. The event brings together journalists from 11 media outlets in eight ASEAN countries to explore rural revitalization in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

Jointly hosted by China Media Group's (CMG) Asian and African Languages Programming Center and Hainan Bureau, the tour focuses on how the development of the Hainan FTP and rural revitalization can reinforce each other. Journalists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam will visit Sanya City, Wuzhishan City and Lingshui Li Autonomous County from October 19 to 24.

Through on-site reporting, the journalists will explore Hainan's efforts to develop distinctive industries, protect its ecological environment, improve people's livelihoods and innovate rural governance. They will also examine how FTP policies support rural revitalization and how ecological advantages can be translated into development opportunities while highlighting cooperation between Hainan and ASEAN countries in industrial development, joint rural development, and cultural and tourism exchanges.

The tour takes place in the first year of island-wide special customs operations at the Hainan FTP. It also coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations and the fifth anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Multimedia content produced during the tour will be distributed through media platforms in ASEAN countries.

"China Walk" is a flagship international media initiative by CGTN that invites journalists from around the world to experience China firsthand and report on its development from their own perspectives, promoting cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.