A proposal on the establishment of the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone for Hainan's two sessions was unveiled on March 9, 2015 by Lin Guofu, former head of the Hainan Development and Reform Commission.
The central government announces its support for turning Hainan into a pilot free trade zone and gradually exploring the establishment of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics.
A guidance is jointly issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council to support Hainan's efforts to deepen reform and opening-up.
The Haikou Jiangdong New Area, with a total area of 298 square kilometers, is located in the east coast of Haikou, consisting of an ecological function area, an industrial-city integration area, Guilinyang National Tropical Agricultural Park, Guilinyang College Area, and a living area in the west. In the future, it will be built into a pilot area of deepening reform and opening-up, a national experimental area for ecological civilization, an international tourism consumption center, as well as a national strategic service guarantee area.
The State Council gives the green light to the establishment of the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Port and releases the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone General Plan.
The first batch of the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Pilot Zone construction projects start construction and 100 projects with a total investment of 29.8 billion yuan ($4.22 billion)
break ground, while 41 projects with a combined investment of 34.2 billion yuan are signed.
A press conference on the first batch of institutional innovation cases the in China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone is held, and eight cases of system innovation are released.
China is expanding its visa-free access to Hainan Island for tourists from 59 countries who are planning to visit China's southern-most province after May 1 to boost the island's tourism industry, as well as its reform and opening-up. For the first time, individual tourists will be allowed to fly into the tropical island and stay for up to 30 days without having to apply for a visa.
The Implementation Plan for the Hainan-Hong Kong-Macao Free Flow of Yachts in China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone is launched. A Hong Kong catamaran named DU that was carrying seven people enters Sanya on July 13, marking the official beginning of "free flow of yachts" between Hainan province and the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.
By 2020, significant progress will be made in the construction of the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Zone. By 2025, a free trade port system will be "basically established" in Hainan. By 2035, China aims to make its free trade port system and operational mode "more mature." By the middle of the century, Hainan will take the lead to achieve socialist modernization.
