"Harbor Alliance and Integration Development - 2026 Harbor Cooperation and Exchange Conference" held in Haikou

This article is from Times Weekly, author: Wang Chenting

To thoroughly implement the important instructions on port linkage development, and to strengthen the coordinated interaction between Hainan Free Trade Port and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in broader and deeper fields, the “Port Linkage and Integrated Development—2026 Port Cooperation Exchange Conference” was held in Haikou, Hainan, on March 22. Supported by the China (Hainan) Reform and Development Research Institute and Guangdong Publishing Group, hosted by the Hainan Free Trade Port Research Institute and Southern Publishing Media, more than 340 representatives from the Greater Bay Area, Hainan Free Trade Port, other provinces, as well as government officials, renowned scholars, enterprises, industry associations, and media from Singapore and Malaysia attended.

2026 Port Cooperation Exchange Conference Scene

At the opening ceremony, Wang Bin, Member of the Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda, Tan Juntie, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Guangdong Publishing Group and Southern Publishing Media, and Chi Fulin, President of the China (Hainan) Reform and Development Research Institute and Director of the Hainan Free Trade Port Research Institute, delivered speeches. The ceremony was hosted by Miao Shubin, Executive Dean of the China (Hainan) Reform and Development Research Institute.

Wang Bin pointed out that the land and sea dependencies and close ties among Qiong (Hainan), Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, with complementary geographical advantages and coordinated strategic positioning, make joint development and integration not only a necessary implementation of national strategies but also the best choice for both sides to seize development opportunities and achieve mutual benefits. Wang Bin introduced that in recent years, port cooperation has deepened and solidified, with steady growth in Hong Kong investments in Hainan, reaching 18.443 billion yuan in actual use by 2025, a 21.5% increase year-on-year; the fifth Consumer Expo saw participation from over 100 enterprises from Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong; cooperation platforms such as the Guangdong-Hainan Advanced Manufacturing Industry Park, Shenzhen-Danzhou Cooperation Zone, Haikou Demonstration Zone for Hainan-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation, and Sanya Demonstration Zone have achieved significant results; infrastructure connectivity has accelerated, and a three-dimensional transportation network is taking shape. Standing at a new starting point of island-wide customs operations, Hainan will promote comprehensive linkage and integration with the Greater Bay Area with greater efforts and practical measures. To this end, he proposed: build strategic corridors, seek breakthroughs in connectivity; develop industrial highlands, deepen cooperation and complementarity; establish institutional highlands, pursue open innovation with tangible results; and create safety barriers, ensure long-term risk prevention.

Wang Bin’s speech at the opening

Tan Juntie stated in his opening speech that this port cooperation exchange invites government, enterprise, and academic sectors to jointly explore how to write a detailed, profound, and well-crafted “port linkage” story, telling three key stories to the world: a story of reform through institutional connection and coordinated development, making institutional innovation the engine of high-quality growth; a story of a “smart brain” and policy advisory that illuminates the way forward; and a cultural story of collective effort and win-win cooperation, allowing Lingnan culture’s genes to shine in the era. Tan Juntie said that the two provinces of Hainan and Guangdong are connected by water, sharing roots and origins, with the historical genes of Lingnan culture flowing with a philosophy of hard work, pragmatism, and daring to innovate and explore—this is the spiritual treasure of the people of Hainan and Guangdong. The values embedded in this are not only the spiritual roots of the Chinese nation but also the cultural core driving contemporary China’s development. In recent years, Southern Publishing Media has deepened cooperation with the China Reform and Development Institute, jointly editing and publishing the “Reform and Opening-up Series,” aiming to provide theoretical support and intellectual backing for the comprehensive deepening of reform and opening-up and the promotion of Chinese-style modernization through panoramic records, scholarly interpretation, and popular dissemination of the reform and opening-up process.

Tan Juntie, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Guangdong Publishing Group and Southern Publishing Media

Chi Fulin delivered a keynote speech titled “Building a Strategic Pivot for Connecting Internal and External Markets through Port Integration.” He believed that strengthening the linkage development between Hainan Free Trade Port and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area hinges on pragmatic progress in port integration—guided by strategic coordination, focusing on industrial integration, and breaking through policy barriers. First, port integration emphasizes ASEAN. It involves jointly creating a front for economic and trade cooperation targeting ASEAN to realize national strategic coordination: strengthening economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN to realize an “important open gateway” and a “dual circulation strategic pivot”; upgrading China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation through port integration; and building China-ASEAN “offshore industrial cooperation zones” as key platforms. Second, port integration emphasizes industrial fusion—deepening the integration of resources, manufacturing, and services to build a port industry chain and supply chain. He suggested creating a port industry chain with “Hainan policies, resources + Guangdong manufacturing + Hong Kong and Macao services,” implementing streamlined negative lists for cross-border trade services, and establishing a “single pass” to jointly develop a port financial market. Third, port integration emphasizes policy fusion—breaking down barriers through cross-regional policy coordination. He proposed enhancing the port’s function of gathering and allocating domestic and international factors through policy integration, attracting high-quality factors with mutual tax policies, and supporting enterprises in “front-shop, back-factory” layouts through cross-regional value-added policies.

Chi Fulin’s speech at the opening

After the opening, two plenary sessions were held under the theme “Port Linkage: Strategic Goals and Major Tasks,” hosted by Zhou Shuchun, senior researcher at the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the Contemporary China and World Research Institute.

Xia De Ren, former chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Political Consultative Conference and member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, believed that port linkage helps regions fully absorb the most advanced production factors domestically and internationally, utilize regional innovation resources, build competitive industrial systems, and facilitate trade channels for goods and services, forming a crucial hub for domestic and international dual circulation. The focus of port linkage lies in interconnected policies, infrastructure, and industrial development.

Long Yongtu, China’s chief negotiator for WTO accession and former secretary-general of the Boao Asia Forum, stated that port cooperation is a strategic support for accelerating the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port. Strengthening the linkage between Hainan Free Trade Port and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area benefits the overall national economy, the development of the Bay Area, and the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port itself.

Yang Rongwen, former Singapore Foreign Minister and visiting scholar at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, believed that Hainan Free Trade Port plays an important role in China’s future development. By leveraging its unique maritime connection with ASEAN, strengthening economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN beyond current levels, it will not only attract the Greater Bay Area but also enhance its strategic position.

Peng Sen, former president of the China Society of Economic Reform, suggested that during the 14th Five-Year Plan, efforts should be made to strengthen port development cooperation, promote free flow of factors among urban and rural areas, regions, and industries, adhere to market-oriented allocation, and maximize benefits and efficiency. This will inject strong momentum into high-quality development and lay a solid institutional foundation for building a modern economic system.

Huang Yuanshan, head of policy team of the Hong Kong SAR government, proposed leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages as an international financial center to serve Hainan, attracting more foreign investment, and accelerating Hainan Free Trade Port’s integration with the world through Hong Kong’s professional services.

Cao Yuanzheng, associate professor of management practice at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, suggested deepening the integration of Guangdong manufacturing, Hainan platforms, and Hong Kong and Macao services to form a global industrial chain, thereby promoting the elevation of “Chinese standards” to “world standards.”

Liu Shangxi, vice chairman of the China Macroeconomics Society and member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, pointed out the importance of aligning with the digital revolution trend, jointly building an intelligent economic development highland, and providing Chinese wisdom and solutions for global AI governance.

Huang Qunhui, researcher at the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, recommended promoting the synergy of value-added processing policies and modern manufacturing in ports, effectively leveraging the advantages of the four regions, and forming a future industrial layout, emerging industries, and traditional industry upgrades.

Zhao Zhongxiu, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of the University of International Business and Economics, believed that Hainan Free Trade Port should focus on breaking institutional barriers, meet enterprise needs pragmatically, and promote in-depth cooperation with rules, regulations, standards, and management at the institutional level.

Luo Hongxia, secretary of the Xuwen County Party Committee, stated that Xuwen will seize opportunities, strengthen connections, and play a solid “mainland pillar” role in the grand strategy and layout of port linkage.

In the afternoon, two parallel dialogues focused on four major topics to transform policy dividends into cooperation results, promoting policy integration, industrial collaboration, and resource efficiency. Dialogue 1 covered “Port Service Trade Integration and Institutional Opening” and “Value-added Processing Policy Benefits and Modern Port Manufacturing.” Dialogue 2 focused on “Development of ‘New Guangdong by Sea’ and ‘Sea South of Hainan’” and “Cross-strait Development and Port Shipping Integration.”

The port cooperation exchange aims to create a high-level, pragmatic, and mechanism-based platform, rotating between Guangdong and Hainan, injecting new momentum into regional high-quality development, expanding new space for national strategies, and achieving new growth.

This event was co-organized by the Hainan Reform and Development Foundation and Guangdong Times Media Group.