This Day, That Year

The item from Aug 6, 1989, in China Daily showed two 20,000-metric-ton berths in the final stage of construction at Yangpu harbor in the Hainan province special economic zone.

The project was part of a larger effort being made by the zone’s authorities to improve the climate for investment.

Through decades of development, tropical Hainan has

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up policy.

become one of China’s up-and-coming regions.

In April, central authorities announced a plan to turn Hainan into an international pilot free trade zone by 2020 and a free port with Chinese characteristics by 2025. The province is also being encouraged to develop beach and water sports, horse racing and a sports lottery.

On June 3, provincial authorities announced the

The newspaper and beyond

establishment of a new benchmark — the Haikou Jiangdong New District of China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone — to promote development of the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Besides the free trade zone, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, has earmarked Hainan island for development into a global tourist destination by 2020. A series of measures have been rolled out to attract global visitors, including a tax-refund policy.

Since May 1, people from 59 qualified countries includ- ing the United Kingdom can enjoy visa-free access to Hainan for up to 30 days, an increase from 2010, when the policy included 26 countries and 15 days.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Hainan becoming a province and special economic zone. The island of more than

9 million people, once considered a backwater of fishermen and poor farmers, is now a vivid example of China’s commitment to the future.