The International Forum on Free Trade Zones Development 2019 was held in Haikou, Hainan Province on May 21. More than 1,000 representatives from Chinese government institutions, the world-renowned free trade zones, international organizations, diplomatic corps to China, companies at home and abroad and research institutions were in attendance.

Gao Yan, Chairperson of CCPIT, Kevin Michael Rudd, Former Australian Prime Minister, Tan Kok Wai, Special Envoy of Malaysia to China, also the Chairman of Malaysia-China Business Council, Shen Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province delivered speeches during the opening ceremony. CCPIT Vice Chairman Zhang Shenfeng hosted the opening ceremony.

Huang Qifan, Permanent Vice Chairman of China Center for International Economic Exchanges and Vice-Chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, James Zhan, Director of UNCTAD's Investment and Enterprise Division, Xu Hongcai, Deputy Director of Economic Policy Committee of China Association of Policy Science, Greg Gilligan, Vice President of America Chamber of Commerce in China, Dr. Mohan Guruswamy, Chief Knowledge Officer of World Free Zones Organization attended the forum.

Themed at “Enhance the level of Openness: Internationalization and Facilitation”, they delivered speeches on the issues like setting up higher international rules for economic and trade, expanding market access for foreign investment, accelerating customs clearance and facilitation reform, promoting free and convenient flow of funds and building a multimodal transport system.

Chi Fulin, a member of the 11th and 12th National Committee of CPPCC, whose is also the President of China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD), Former Vice Chairman of CCPIT Zhang Wei, who is also the Special Researcher of SEEC Research Institute, Chen Yanfeng, Deputy-Director of Management Committee of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and George Lau, Vice President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China were in attendance. With theme “Better Business Environment: Fairness and Rule of Law”, they discussed the topics including deepening the reform of “streamline administration, delegate powers, and improve regulation and services”, strengthening the protection of intellectual property, safeguarding fair competition, perfecting the guarantee of enterprise's rule of law and improving the predictability of policy.

The participants also discussed the topics including new opportunities for free trade zones cooperative and open development, promoting the free trade zones with financial innovation and differential development of free trade zones.

On the behalf of industrial and business community at home and aboard, Yu Jianlong, Secretary-General of CCOIC issued the Haikou Initiatives on Boosting Free Trade Zones Development. The Initiative is conducive to promoting the development of free trade zones, supporting trade liberalization and facilitation, expanding mutual investment, strengthening industrial cooperation, expanding areas of cooperation, optimizing business environment, and strengthening exchanges and mutual learning.

The forum was hosted by CCPIT and the People’s Government of Hainan Province. There are Free Trade Zones Promotion and Enterprise Exchanges Meeting and business trip on May 22.