China News Service, Boao, March 28 (Reporter Wang Ziqian) "Jeju Island is the first region in South Korea to develop green hydrogen energy, and it is also the most convenient place for South Korea to develop aerospace. We are willing to cooperate with other free trade zones (ports) in hydrogen energy Increase cooperation in the fields of development, aerospace, tourism and other fields." Oh Yeon-hun, Governor of Jeju Special Autonomous Province in South Korea, said at the "Global Free Trade Port Development" sub-forum at the Boao Forum for Asia 2024 Annual Conference, "Put our wisdom into Together, we can solve many problems together.”
The free trade zone (port) is an important carrier for promoting international trade activities, promoting integrated industrial development and enhancing economic vitality. At this Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, Hainan Free Trade Port invites free trade zones (ports) from all over the world to discuss opening up and cooperation, and explore a broader space for the growth of world trade and investment.
On March 27, the "Global Free Trade Port Development" sub-forum of the Boao Forum for Asia 2024 Annual Conference was held. Photo by China News Service reporter Luo Yunfei
There are currently more than 130 free trade ports and more than 2,000 free economic zones with similar connotations and functions to free trade ports around the world. At the Boao Forum for Asia 2023 Annual Conference, Hainan Free Trade Port jointly launched the "Global Free Trade Zone (Port) Partnership Initiative" with 25 free trade zones (ports) at home and abroad, including Hong Kong SAR of China and Jeju International Free City of South Korea.
Hainan Province Governor Liu Xiaoming said that at a time when economic globalization is encountering countercurrents and the world openness index continues to decline, cooperation in global free trade zones (ports) is the need of the times. “In this context, building a global free trade zone (port) Hong Kong) partnership and continued expansion of institutional opening-up will inject confidence and vitality into world economic development."
"Global free trade zone (Hong Kong) cooperation will enhance business exchanges between countries and better respond to the challenges of unilateralism and protectionism." Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Chen Guoji said that Hong Kong will further leverage its international advantages and play a greater role in promoting global free trade cooperation.
In what aspects can global free trade zone (Hong Kong) cooperation be carried out? Liu Xiaoming proposed that there is broad space for cooperation in aviation, shipping, online logistics, cross-border e-commerce, and data fields, and the free trade zone (port) can build an international high-standard and resilient division of labor network.
In fact, in the process of building free trade zone (Hong Kong) partners, some bilateral cooperation has already bore fruit. Gan Haojun, CEO of Singapore Changi Airport Management Investment Company, said at the forum that Singapore and Hainan have actively strengthened innovation in the aviation field and have now opened fifth-freedom passenger routes, and seventh-freedom passenger routes will also be accelerated this year. In addition, more flexible air cargo methods are also being explored and implemented.
The reporter learned that one year after the release of the Global Free Trade Zone (Port) Partnership Initiative, 32 free trade zone (port) partners have joined, including 11 overseas free trade zones (ports). This year's forum released the "Concept Document on the Global Free Trade Zone (Hong Kong) Partnership Initiative", proposing to promote "hard connectivity" of infrastructure and "soft connectivity" of institutional rules, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and strengthen scientific and technological innovation cooperation. Strengthen the docking of rules and standards in the digital field and the docking of green development strategies and other key areas of cooperation.
Since 2013, China has established 21 pilot free trade zones and the Hainan Free Trade Port. He Yongqian, deputy director of the Free Trade Zone and Port Construction Coordination Department of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, said that during the construction of free trade zones (ports), China has promoted high-level institutional opening up, high-standard integration with international economic and trade rules, and in order to promote industrial transformation and upgrading, It has played a positive role in promoting South-South cooperation. In the next step, China will build free trade zones (ports) with high standards, play a greater role in creating a high-level opening-up platform, and provide Chinese wisdom for global free trade zone cooperation. (over)