China Opens Hainan Port To More Foreign Businesses, Professionals

C hina has unveiled 16 measures to make it easier for foreign bu­ sinesses and professionals to operate in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area. The new policies cover energy trade, medical services and bonded business operations, according to a government circular made public Thursday. Under the measures, foreign physicians legally licensed to practice medicine overseas may obtain permits to provide clinical diagnosis and treatment services in Hainan for up to three years, with ex­ tensions available in accordance with relevant regulations. More convenient policies regarding work permits and stay and residence will also be intro­ duced for foreign nationals. The Hainan FTP, located in China's southernmost island province, launched island-wide special customs operations in Decem­ ber 2025, allowing freer entry of over­ seas goods, expanded zero-tariff co­ verage and more business-friendly measures as part of China's efforts to promote high-standard opening-up. Overseas companies will be allowed to use bonded facilities at Hainan's li­ quefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals, while the FTP will be sup­ ported in conducting LNG futures de­ livery warehouse operations after LNG futures contracts are launched. Other measures include promoting offshore trade, expanding the range of products eligible for bonded main­ tenance, facilitating the entry of eligible bonded remanufactured products into pilot free trade zones on the Chinese mainland, encouraging the use of the yuan in new forms of barter trade, and deepening the FTP's economic and trade cooperation with China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Re­ gion. Bonded remanufactured products en­ tering mainland pilot free trade zones will be subject to applicable import tariffs, import-related value-added tax and consumption tax. They must also meet all applicable technical require­ ments for equivalent new products and relevant regulations on remanu­ factured products, and be clearly la­ belled as such. The circular also calls for improved insuranc...