On December 18, the Hainan Free Trade Port (hereinafter referred to as "Hainan Free Trade Port") officially launched the island-wide customs closure, which is a landmark measure for my country to unswervingly expand high-level opening up and promote the construction of an open world economy.
Since the release of the "Overall Plan for the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port" in 2020, the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port has progressed steadily and rapidly. From a "smooth start" to a "vigorous rise," major projects have been implemented at an accelerated pace, and innovative measures have been introduced quickly. Following the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the Export-Import Bank of China, based on its positioning as a policy-oriented financial institution and adhering to the main theme of opening up, quickly issued the "Implementation Opinions on Supporting the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port," providing impetus for major project construction, accelerating industrial upgrading, and boosting enterprises' "going global" strategy. In opening a new chapter of higher-level opening up and development, the Export-Import Bank of China has written a solid and vivid footnote with its financial expertise.
"Add fuel" to accelerate new infrastructure construction.
Aerial view of the Yangpu Port coastline reveals three 220,000-cubic-meter LNG storage tanks supported by the Export-Import Bank of China. This is my country's first liquefied natural gas receiving terminal to obtain bonded status, and it is also currently the largest liquefied natural gas receiving terminal in China with a bonded business model.
During the project financing process, the Hainan Branch of the Export-Import Bank of China assembled a professional team that spanned multiple business units and departments to collaborate and respond quickly. The project approval was completed in just 30 days, making it the first bank to provide loan support for the project and providing crucial start-up capital.
Infrastructure is a crucial support for the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port. In recent years, the Export-Import Bank of China has actively followed up and deeply integrated into the overall construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, prioritizing the allocation of financial resources to key channels, core hubs, and smart port construction. With the support of the Export-Import Bank of China, breakthroughs in various infrastructure projects are outlining the upward curve of Hainan's high-quality economic and social development, reflecting the vigorous progress of the Free Trade Port construction.
The Export-Import Bank of China actively participates in building Hainan Free Trade Port into a new hub for "two hubs." Through fixed asset loans for foreign trade infrastructure, the Export-Import Bank precisely addresses the financing needs of the expansion and renovation of Terminal 3 at Phoenix International Airport Phase III and Terminal 2 at Boao Airport Phase III. With the commissioning of the new terminals, the comprehensive support capabilities and service levels of Hainan Free Trade Port will be significantly enhanced.
Adjacent to the Haikou Meilan International Airport hub, the Hainan International Smart Logistics and Trade Cloud Port project is accelerating its development. The Export-Import Bank of China, through customized service plans and a green channel, has facilitated internal and external collaboration and coordinated efforts to provide precise support for the project's construction. The project's implementation has not only enhanced emergency response capabilities but also promoted the deep integration of logistics, trade, and finance industries, providing crucial logistics infrastructure support for the Hainan Free Trade Port's customs clearance operations.
Accelerating the development of modern industries
Focusing on building a modern industrial system for the Hainan Free Trade Port, the Export-Import Bank of China has assisted the Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City High-tech Zone in key aspects such as scientific research and industrial development. It has conducted in-depth research on the deep-sea industry and innovated supporting policies, formulating differentiated financing support measures. A total of RMB 1.736 billion in policy-based loans has been provided for deep-sea scientific research platform projects, intelligent manufacturing innovation parks, and animal laboratory construction projects, helping Hainan build a high ground for deep-sea science and technology innovation. The Jiufeng Special Fuel and Gas project, supported by the bank, has risen in the Wenchang International Aerospace City. The liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen, and liquid oxygen produced by the project provide impetus for commercial space launches, ensuring the steady and long-term development of commercial aerospace.
The Export-Import Bank of China has been deeply involved in and strongly supported the construction of key industrial parks in the Hainan Free Trade Port, continuously deepening its cooperation with parks such as Yangpu Economic Development Zone, Haikou High-tech Zone, and Jiangdong New Area, as well as enterprises within these parks, providing a steady stream of policy-based financial support for park construction and enterprise operations. As of the end of November 2025, the Export-Import Bank of China's Hainan Branch had outstanding loans exceeding RMB 20 billion in key industrial parks in Hainan.
These practices that support industrial development have not only enriched the modern industrial ecosystem but also cultivated a new engine for economic growth in the Hainan Free Trade Port.
The Export-Import Bank of China stated that it consistently prioritizes allocating more policy-based financial resources to key areas that Hainan needs for development, reform, and public support. It will vigorously promote the extension, supplementation, optimization, and upgrading of the four leading industries. Focusing on its comparative advantages in "three dimensions and one color" and adhering to the "five-pronged approach to strengthening Hainan," the bank is creating an important practice ground for new-quality productivity tailored to local conditions, continuously enhancing the industrial capacity of Hainan's "five-pronged approach to strengthening Hainan."
Boosting support for enterprises to "go global"
As the policy dividends of the Hainan Free Trade Port continue to be released, more and more enterprises are choosing to "go global" from Hainan. As an important financial force supporting my country's foreign trade and investment development, the Export-Import Bank of China has introduced specific measures this year, leveraging its advantages in cultivating overseas markets, and supporting enterprises to "go global" with high quality through a support strategy that links enterprises, industries, and industrial parks.
The natural rubber industry is a vital sector for Hainan State Farms and a representative example of their "going global" strategy. This year, the Export-Import Bank of China once again provided financial services to a large Hainan-based natural rubber company, supporting its efforts in establishing origin traceability and international certification for natural rubber in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Côte d'Ivoire, thus promoting the sustainable development of the regional rubber industry. An official from the Hainan branch of the Export-Import Bank of China explained that the branch has prioritized supporting such companies since its inception. Over a decade of collaboration has transformed the company from a simple natural rubber production and processing enterprise into the world's largest integrated natural rubber industry group.
Based on the diverse financial needs of different enterprises, the Export-Import Bank of China actively innovates its credit policies and continuously improves the suitability of its financial services to enterprise needs. For example, it tailors "one-enterprise-one-policy" financial solutions for key foreign trade enterprises such as Global Luxury Duty Free and Hainan Tourism Duty Free. Simultaneously, it innovates trade finance products, handling the bank's first buyer's agency model forfaiting transaction in the primary market for a large foreign trade enterprise in Hainan, and successfully issuing the first offshore RMB bond issued by a policy bank in the Hainan Free Trade Port, contributing to the development of the offshore financial market.
Azure skies and boundless waters stretch as far as the eye can see. With the commencement of full island customs closure operations, the Hainan Free Trade Port is transforming from blueprint into reality. The Export-Import Bank of China will take a more proactive approach, working with all parties to contribute policy-based financial strength to the comprehensive realization of the Hainan Free Trade Port's construction goals and the promotion of higher-level opening-up.
