Chi Fulin
President of China (Hainan) Reform and Development Research Institute, Vice President of China Economic System Reform Research Association
It is a major national strategy to build a free trade port in Hainan and build China's important open gateway to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. "Recently, Chi Fulin, president of the China (Hainan) Reform and Development Research Institute and vice chairman of the China Economic System Reform Research Association, pointed out in an interview with reporters from the People’s Daily Online Forum that the breakthrough and focus of the Hainan Free Trade Port’s construction is to strengthen and economy and trade cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges among Southeast Asian countries. It is necessary to succeed in being the world’s largest free trade port, so that Hainan will play an increasingly important role in Pan-South China Sea Economic cooperation and cooperation in the entire Asia-Pacific region, and become a leader in a new era as well a clear banner of opening up.
Powerful Nation Forum: Where is the breakthrough point for achieving the strategic goal of Hainan's free trade port construction?
Chi Fulin: It is a major national strategy to build the Hainan Free Trade Port into China's important open gateway to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The central government decides to build a free trade port in Hainan. The focus is to build China's important open gateway to the Pacific and Indian Ocean. This is a major national strategy. To achieve this major strategic goal is not only Hainan's historical responsibility, but also a major strategic need of China.
The breakthrough and focus of the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port is to strengthen economy and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges with Southeast Asian countries. First, the Hainan Free Trade Port must function as a major channel for the two-way flow of commodities and factors between China and ASEAN countries; secondly, the Hainan Free Trade Port must become a large platform for the transfer, transaction, and allocation of high-quality factors between China and ASEAN countries. Therefore, it will not only achieve an important breakthrough in the economy and trade cooperation between Hainan Free Trade Port and ASEAN countries, but also create important conditions for the creation of a Pan-South China Sea Economic Cooperation Circle.
Powerful Country Forum: What paths are needed to realize the high-level opening up of Hainan?
Chi Fulin: First, a high-level opening policy and institutional arrangements. Implement free and convenient trade and investment policies; implement the "three freedoms" financial system (freedom of cross-border funds, trade settlement, investment and financing, etc.); implement a tax system featuring "zero tariffs, low tax rates, and simple tax systems" ; Implement a legal system in line with international standards and a judicial system with international credibility; implement a convenient, efficient, and transparent
Second, the signing of RCEP is a major opportunity. The signing of RCEP is a major strategic breakthrough in the specific context of economic globalization. RCEP established the principle of gradual implementation of "zero tariff".
The third is to make good use of policies is the key. Transitional policies cannot be regarded as long-term policies, and phased policies cannot be regarded as long-term policies. Some principled policy arrangements need to create conditions for specific breakthroughs. For example, due to the relatively weak economic foundation of Hainan and the relatively lagging financial development, financial management is faced with various problems, and currently does not have the conditions for full financial opening. It is necessary to create conditions to walk out of the road of financial development. At the same time, it is necessary to accelerate the introduction and training of a group of financial talents who understand professionalism and management.
Powerful Country Forum: Hainan is mainly characterized by service trade. Under the specific background of promoting high-level opening up, what new development opportunities and prospects does it have?
Chi Fulin: First, develop high-quality service trade. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, with the upgrading of consumption structure and industrial structure, especially technological changes, my country's service trade will show a rapid development trend. In this context, the modern service industry and the servitization of the manufacturing industry will be a prominent feature of future economic development. Hainan's industrial development dominated by service trade is in line with the general trend of economic development. Hainan’s development of tourism, modern service industries, and high-tech industries is in line with the general trend of economic globalization and the development of service trade, and is more in line with Hainan’s reality.
The second is the two "aces" of industrial development. One is tax-free shopping. Under the impact of the epidemic, duty-free shopping on Hainan's outlying islands has doubled in 2020. In the future, Hainan's outlying island duty-free shopping market will continue to develop faster. The second is medical health. Hainan's education and medical care are not only basic industries, but also the top priority of the development of basic industries. They are industries that influence and drive other industries. In the future, Hainan can take a big step in education, medical and health, and it will greatly stimulate the development of related industries.
The third is to build a global tropical agriculture center. Tropical agriculture is highly dependent on advanced manufacturing, modern service industries, and high-tech industries. Under the background of achieving "zero tariff", Hainan should integrate my country's advanced manufacturing industry with tropical agriculture and build it into an important base for the preservation, processing, storage and transportation of tropical agricultural products for the world, especially Southeast Asia, thereby driving tropical agricultural production. The revolution in methods and organization has significantly increased the added value of Hainan's tropical agriculture.
Powerful Country Forum: After building a free trade port, what suggestions do you have for the high-level open Hainan free trade port?
Chi Fulin: To open the Hainan Free Trade Port to a high level, I think, the first is to emancipate the mind and innovate boldly. The second is to firmly grasp the period of strategic opportunity. The third is to improve the ability and level of making good use of policies. At the beginning of the establishment of the province, the provincial party committee and government put forward the nine-character work policy of "using policies, laying a foundation, and grasping implementation". After more than 30 years, I think this policy is still guiding. The fourth is to accelerate the formation of a first-class talent development environment.
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