13th CCG VIP Luncheon: New Progress of Hainan Free Trade Port
May 16 , 2025
On May 16, the 13th edition of the “CCG VIP Luncheon” was grandly held in Beijing. This high-level dialogue, themed “New Progress of Hainan Free Trade Port,” coincided with the first anniversary of the launch of this signature series and marked the first time a luncheon was dedicated to a specific province, adding a unique practical perspective and valuable dimension to the event. Nearly 50 prominent figures from political, business, and academic circles in China and abroad participated in the discussion, focusing on the impacts and opportunities of institutional innovation in the Hainan Free Trade Port.
At the event, Dr. Henry Huiyao WANG, President of CCG and Former Counsellor of the State Council, served as the moderator. Distinguished speakers included WANG Bin, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Director of the Publicity Department, and Spokesperson for the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee; LI Yufei, Deputy Director of the Office of the Committee for Deepening Overall Reform of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (Office of the Free Trade Port Working Committee, CPC Hainan Provincial Committee); ZHANG Jianping, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC), Ministry of Commerce and Vice Chairman of the China Association for Social and Economic System Analysis (CASESA); and Tracy Huang, Deputy Director of Hainan International Economic Development Bureau (IEDB). These experts delivered a series of insightful and thought-provoking speeches centered on the event’s theme, offering participants a rich intellectual experience.
The luncheon also attracted strong international participation, including the ambassadors to China from six countries—Estonia, Iceland, Indonesia, Latvia, Malta, and Norway—as well as 11 diplomatic representatives from Croatia, Finland, India, Japan, Pakistan, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. In addition, representatives of international organizations, corporate executives, and members of prominent domestic and international media were in attendance.
Hainan Province is China’s largest special economic zone and China’s officially designated free trade port. It serves as a pilot zone for deepening reform and opening-up, as well as an international tourism and consumption center. By the end of 2025, Hainan will implement full customs closure operations, at which point even more preferential policies will be introduced. The luncheon, planned and successfully hosted by CCG, aimed to provide a high-level dialogue platform that brings together leading Chinese experts and international representatives from various sectors. The event offered in-depth analysis of the opportunities and challenges that may arise following the implementation of customs closure, and contributed valuable insights on how Hainan Free Trade Port can better play its unique role in the evolving landscape of global trade.
At the opening of the event, CCG Secretary-General Dr. Mabel Lu Miao warmly welcomed all guests and participants. She highlighted that the “CCG VIP Luncheon” serves as a high-level platform for international exchange, aiming to foster mutual understanding and dialogue between China and the world. This session focused on the latest progress in the Hainan Free Trade Port and China’s broader opening-up efforts, exploring their global significance. She introduced the four keynote speakers and welcomed representatives from embassies, international organizations, multinational companies, academia, and the media. She then invited CCG President Dr. Henry Huiyao WANG to moderate the discussion, expressing confidence that the insights shared would offer valuable perspectives for all attendees.
CCG President Dr. Henry Huiyao WANG briefly introduced the background and achievements of the “CCG VIP Luncheon” series, noting its growth into a leading dialogue platform in Beijing since its launch a year ago. He highlighted the special focus of this session on Hainan Free Trade Port—the first time the series has addressed a provincial topic. Dr. Wang welcomed four senior officials from Hainan who traveled to Beijing for the event and expressed hope it would enhance global understanding of Hainan’s role in China’s free trade strategy and promote international cooperation. He then introduced the keynote speakers and invited them to share insights on Hainan’s latest developments and strategic direction.
In his keynote speech, WANG BIN, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Director of the Publicity Department, and Spokesperson for the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, thanked CCG for organizing the event. He emphasized that building the Hainan Free Trade Port is a key national strategy, positioning Hainan as a gateway for China’s new era of opening-up. He noted the port’s strong progress, marked by greater openness and active investment. Highlighting Hainan’s four key advantages—strategic location, top-tier policies, legal stability, and global connectivity—he welcomed international partners to join in Hainan’s development and contribute to China’s high-quality opening and global economic recovery.
LI Yufei, Deputy Director of the Office of the Committee for Deepening Overall Reform of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (Office of the Free Trade Port Working Committee, CPC Hainan Provincial Committee), highlighted Hainan’s advantages as China’s most open region with low taxes, simplified foreign investment rules, and policies allowing independent overseas universities and foreign-owned hospitals with efficient approvals. He noted Hainan’s focus on tourism, modern services, high-tech, and tropical agriculture, as well as deep-sea industries, aerospace, and international consumer goods events, inviting global investors to explore these opportunities.
ZHANG Jianping, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC), Ministry of Commerce; Vice Chairman of the China Association for Social and Economic System Analysis (CASESA), emphasized the tremendous market potential of the RCEP region. He noted that the Hainan Free Trade Port has unique advantages and can leverage RCEP rules to develop high-end manufacturing, high technology, services, and tourism. By creating an international business environment, Hainan aims to promote fair competition and high-quality development. Facing global challenges, Hainan has the potential to become a key driver of China’s reform and opening-up.
Tracy Huang, Deputy Director of Hainan International Economic Development Bureau (IEDB), highlighted the Hainan Free Trade Port’s three key industries: tourism, green low-carbon sectors, and digital economy. She noted rich tourism resources, year-round growth driven by international events, and innovation opportunities in green energy and digital economy. She also introduced a new free trade account system to ease capital flow and invited businesses to explore opportunities in Hainan’s 13 industrial parks and the China International Consumer Products Expo.
During the Q&A session, guests from embassies, international organizations, businesses, and media actively participated with questions. These included Saeed Alghfeli, First Secretary, Head of the Economic Affairs Section, Embassy of UAE; H.E. Djauhari Oratmangun, Ambassador of Indonesia to China; Amakobe Sande, Representative, UNICEF; H.E. Vebjorn Dysvik, Ambassador of Norway to China; Jens Hildebrandt, Vice President of Government Relations, BASF China; Evelyn Cheng, Senior Correspondent, CNBC; Tamas Hajba, Senior Advisor for China, OECD; and H.E. John Busuttil, Ambassador of Malta to China. Their questions covered topics such as Hainan’s development prospects and cooperation opportunities, regional cooperation and trade investment, the impact of China-US relations on Hainan’s port, and the role of RCEP in driving business growth.
Through the insightful speeches and interactions of diverse participants, this luncheon not only fostered cross-sector exchange of ideas and experience sharing but also provided valuable guidance for policymakers, businesses, and academia in deepening their understanding of Hainan Free Trade Port policies, seizing opportunities from China’s new wave of high-level opening-up, and promoting international cooperation and high-quality development.
Ambassadors of Countries (in alphabetical order of countries):
H.E. Hannes Hanso, Ambassador of Estonia
H.E. Thorir Ibsen, Ambassador of Iceland
H.E. Djauhari Oratmangun,Ambassador of Indonesia
H.E. Karlis Eihenbaums,Ambassador of Latvia
H.E. John Busuttil, Ambassador of Malta
H.E. Vebjorn Dysvik, Ambassador of Norway
Diplomatic Representatives (in alphabetical order of countries):
Maja Frankovic, Counselor of Economy and Trade, Embassy of Croatia
Melissa Säilä, Minister Counsellor of Trade and Economy, Embassy of Finland
Karthikeyan Pandi, First Secretary, Embassy of India
Hironao Tanaka, Economic Counselor, Embassy of Japan
Estelle Vuichard, DeputyHead of the Economic Section, Embassy of Switzerland
Kerem Erol, Commercial Counsellor, Embassy ofTurkey
Gözde Öztürk, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy ofTurkey
Saeed Alghfeli, First Secretary, Head of the Economic Affairs Section, Embassy of UAE
Robert Folley, Deputy Economic Counselor,Embassy of the United States
Angela Mora, Public affairs section,Embassy of the United States
Victoria Dokken, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Trade Office,Embassy of the United States
International Organizations (in alphabetical order of organizations):
TamasHajba, Senior Advisor for China, OECD
Amakobe Sande, Representative,UNICEF
XIAO Yi, Deputy Representative,UNICEF
Enterprise Representatives (in alphabetical order of organizations):
Jens Hildebrandt, Vice President of Government Relations, BASF China
GAO Yong, Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Bayer China
LIANG Can, Director of Central Government Affairs, BeiGene
David Duan, Government and External Affairs, BMW China
Ruby Li, DuPont Senior Manager for government affairs and policy
GENG Yanmei, Senior Director for Government Affairs of Education First (EF)
Jerry Guo, Managing Director of KKR
JING Yuhong, Former Oracle Greater China Sales Director For Financial Services
LI Fei, Senior manager of Corporate Affairs of VALE
Media Representatives (in alphabetical order of organizations):
WANG Siwen, Reporter, CGTN
LIU Youzhi, Cameraman, CGTN
JIAO Jie, Reporter, New Media Center, China Daily
LI Jiaying, Reporter, Econimics Department, China Daily
SONG Yi, Editor, Economics Department, China Daily
XIA Mengchen, Reporter, New Media Center, China Daily
Evelyn Cheng, Senior Correspondent, CNBC
Takashi Yanagisawa, China bureau chief, Nippon Television
Hainan Province Representatives:
WANG BIN, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Director of the Publicity Department, and Spokesperson for the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee
LI Xuanliang, Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee
LI Yufei, Deputy Director of the Office of the Committee for Deepening Overall Reform of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (Office of the Free Trade Port Working Committee, CPC Hainan Provincial Committee)
Tracy Huang, Deputy Director, Hainan International Economic Development Bureau
YAN Shaowei, Acting Director, Office of the Publicity Department, CPC Hainan Provincial Committee
LIU Qiulin, Consultant, External Communication Division, Publicity Department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee
LIU Yang, Deputy Director, Division of Exchange and Cooperation, Committee for Deepening Overall Reform of Hainan Province
