Hainan seeks to attract talents from all over the world

Speech delivered by Shen Xiaoming, governor of Hainan province, at the 2018 Hainan talent fair 'Gathering Talents from All over the World'

-- held at Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone in Beijing, on Nov 10, 2018

Hainan Governor Shen Xiaoming addresses the “Gathering Talents from All over the World” recruitment fair in Zhongguancun Exhibition Center, Beijing on Nov 10, which aims to attract top minds to the province for employment and entrepreneurship. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/For chinadaily.com.cn]

On April 13, 2018, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Hainan as a province and a special economic zone. Xi announced that the CPC Central Committee has decided to support Hainan in developing the whole island into a pilot free trade zone (FTZ), and gradually exploring and steadily promoting the establishment of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. And on November 5, Xi pointed out again at the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo that China will step up efforts to consider policies and systems for building a free trade port in Hainan in a step-by-step and phased manner, so as to speed up exploration of the development of free trade ports with distinct Chinese features. In this way, Hainan has been entrusted with the responsibility of being a pioneer to comprehensively deepen reform and opening-up and a forerunner for reform and opening-up in the new era. To this end, Hainan is becoming a focal point of the world. Over six months, there have been nearly 700,000 online messages about Hainan as an FTZ and a free trade port, making the province a real “internet celebrity”.

Hainan Governor Shen Xiaoming addresses the “Gathering Talents from All over the World” recruitment fair in Zhongguancun Exhibition Center, Beijing on Nov 10, with the purpose of attracting top minds to the province for employment and entrepreneurship. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Free trade ports have the highest level of openness in the world. Many areas in China have experience in implementing the reform and opening-up policy, which has inspired their governments to construct free trade ports. Why was Hainan given the chance to become a pioneer? In my opinion, there are three reasons.

Firstly, Hainan province has a history of implementing the reform and opening-up policy. It was born and became prosperous because of the policy and with its implementation has become a significant window through which the world can know China. To some regions, adopting the reform and opening-up policy was a matter of development, but to Hainan, the policy brought life itself. Therefore, the policy has deeply influenced the province as it is rooted in all aspects of its development.

Secondly, Hainan province has unique location advantages. Maps show us that the province is an island at the center of the world. It is a pivotal region on the Maritime Silk Road and a key gateway to the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Thirdly, Hainan province is a geographically independent unit. It is an offshore island within which special economic policies are implemented for orderly free trade. Hainan is a born free trade port. It’s said that only with strict and sound regulations can the opening-up policy be better implemented. Hainan, as an island, has unique advantages for developing such regulations.

Therefore, Xi said Hainan province has unique advantages as a national pilot zone for deepening the reform and opening-up policy. The central government has been committed to building the province into a pilot zone for comprehensive deepening of reform and opening-up, a national ecological civilization pilot zone, an international tourist consumption center and a national strategy service and security zone.

Hainan Governor Shen Xiaoming addresses the “Gathering Talents from All over the World” recruitment fair in Zhongguancun Exhibition Center, Beijing on Nov 10, which aims to attract top minds to the province for employment and entrepreneurship. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/For chinadaily.com.cn]

What changes will the strategic positioning of Hainan by the central government as “Three Zones, One Center” bring to Hainan? I look forward to seeing them from at least three perspectives.

Firstly, Hainan will become an important junction for the flow of human resources, logistics and capital, and then an important point for distribution of global resources. Well-known enterprises at home and abroad have begun to settle in Hainan. The past six months alone have seen direct investment in Hainan from multinational companies including world-renowned accounting firms, Swiss Re Group and Temasek Holdings, and then witnessed re-positioning of their strategic presence in Hainan by 16 central State-owned enterprises, including China COSCO Shipping, China Merchants Group, and China Shipbuilding Industry, as well as leading private companies such as Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, and Chimelong Group. China National Travel Service Group even moved its headquarters to Hainan. Along with these leading corporations will come a large number of outstanding employment opportunities for young people, many of which I have brought here today.

Secondly, liberalization and facilitation of investment and trade will bring unprecedented investment opportunities. Hainan is one of the most open regions in the country for foreign investment. Entering the phase of free trade port construction, Hainan will further enhance its openness and become an important passageway for foreign investors entering China.

Thirdly, the integrated development of Hainan as an international tourist consumption center, a pilot zone for national ecological civilization, and an international travel destination will help upgrade its tourism industry. Hainan boasts exceptional tourism resources. A series of opening-up measures, like the 59-country visa-free policy, as well as the offshore duty exemption and the departure tax rebate will further promote internationalization of Hainan’s tourism industry.

Attendees are absorbed in the recruitment fair while listening to a speech by Hainan Governor Shen Xiaoming in Zhongguancun Exhibition Center, Beijing on Nov 10. The event aims to attract top minds to the province for employment and entrepreneurship. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/For chinadaily.com.cn]

If these advantages still don’t impress you, let’s talk about poetry and distance.

I was a doctor, with the typical rational thinking mode. “Poetry” and “distance” were just not in my dictionary.

However, a year and a half ago, I was assigned to work in Hainan and became an “islander”. I now fully appreciate the ideals of poetry and distance.

I like the climate here.

Hainan has a mild and humid climate and abundant sunshine; neither cold in winter nor too hot in summer. It also has distinct seasons.

I like the air here.

Each year, the rate of good air quality in Hainan surpasses 99 percent, with 10,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter, the highest in the country.

Sanya and Haikou, the two Hainan cities taking part in the national ranking of urban air quality, are respectively in first and second place.

People in Hainan live a long life because of its pleasant climate and fresh air.

The proportion of centenarians in the province is 22 of every 100,000 people, which is far beyond the definition of longevity of the World Health Organization: 7.5 centenarians among 100,000 people.

I like the beautiful scenery of Hainan.

Throughout the world, most places with mountains have no sea, and vice versa, but in Hainan they are joined together, offering enchanting views at every turn. Here you can see swaying coconut palm trees, blue sea, clear sky, bright sunshine, beckoning beaches, and the only tropical rain forest in China.

Hainan Governor Shen Xiaoming addresses the ”Gathering Talents from All over the World” recruitment fair on Nov 10 in Zhongguancun Exhibition Center, which is crowded with job seekers. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/For chinadaily.com.cn]

I like the people in Hainan.
They are simple and honest. Even now many still leave their doors unbolted at night and never pocket anything found on the road.

If you see a group of people having a heated discussion, then the one who is gentle, attentive and soft-spoken is mostly likely from Hainan.

It is this characteristic that makes Hainan islanders open and inclusive.

Hainan is welcoming, not exclusive. It’s easy to blend in here. Zhou Jian, who gave a speech just now, is a representative outsider who has already integrated into Hainan. This group is not small in Hainan, and I am one of them.

My promotion of Hainan is drawing to a close. I would like to sum up what I have said in one sentence: Hainan is a place where you can realize your dreams and aspirations, and there is poetry and distant lands waiting here for you.

Finally, I would like to end my speech with the last sentence in the VCR: “Let’s go to Hainan together!”

Hainan Governor Shen Xiaoming addresses the “Gathering Talents from All over the World” recruitment fair in Zhongguancun Exhibition Center, Beijing on Nov 10 with the purpose of attracting top minds to the province for employment and entrepreneurship. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/For chinadaily.com.cn]