SANYA, August 18, 2025 – Around 30 journalists from 16 leading media outlets across nine ASEAN countries visited Hainan to witness firsthand how China’s southernmost province is integrating technology, ecology, and openness in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port. The week-long program, running from August 18 to 23, highlights the province’s efforts to combine research, innovation, and environmental sustainability.
From the very first day, the visit emphasized two key themes: research-driven innovation and a commitment to ecological protection. From biodiversity conservation to maritime technology testing, Hainan demonstrated that economic growth can go hand in hand with safeguarding the environment.
One of the stops that captured the journalists’ attention was a tropical aquatic plant conservation center in Sanya, home to hundreds of lotus varieties from around the world that are carefully collected and cultivated.
The group then turned its focus to a high-tech marine testing facility in Yazhou Bay, capable of simulating extreme deep-sea conditions. The facility enables rigorous testing of the stability and durability of technologies ranging from marine energy equipment and underwater robots to offshore oil and gas infrastructure. The cutting-edge facility underlines Hainan’s ambition to emerge as a world-class hub for maritime innovation.
Beyond technological innovation, the delegation also visited the Sanya Coral Reef Research Institute, dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems. Researchers there introduced a conservation approach based on the principle of “nature-based restoration, supplemented by targeted intervention.” This method has become an important reference in coral reef conservation research and has already paved the way for international collaboration, including with Malaysia. Similar partnerships are expected to expand to more ASEAN countries in the future.
“Ecology is the foundation of development, and cooperation is the key,” said Wu Chuanliang, Director of the Sanya Coral Reef Research Institute. He noted that the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port provides greater opportunities to strengthen knowledge-sharing mechanisms with Southeast Asian nations.
The visit reinforced Hainan’s position not only as a gateway for free trade but also as a living laboratory for tropical innovation and eco-friendly development models. With growing openness, Hainan is poised to become a strategic hub linking China and ASEAN in green economy initiatives, maritime technology, and environmental cooperation.
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