An aerial drone photo shows a foreign vessel carrying petrochemical raw materials berthing at Yangpu Port in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

HAIKOU, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.

The move is widely seen as a landmark step in China's ongoing efforts to promote free trade and expand high-standard opening-up at a time of rising protectionism worldwide.

Under the new arrangements, the tropical island of more than 30,000 square km has been designated as a special customs supervision zone. This marks a new stage in the development of the Hainan FTP, which enables freer flows of goods, capital, personnel and data, supported by zero tariffs, low tax rates and a simplified tax system. ■

A meeting to launch island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is held in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

A billboard for the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is seen in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 17, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

An aerial drone photo shows a view of Qinglan Port, a port among both eight "first-line" and ten "second-line" customs ports of Hainan, in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 17, 2025.

China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

The "first line" refers to Hainan's connection with overseas markets. Meanwhile, the "second line" refers to the customs boundary between Hainan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A truck carrying the first batch of goods that completed customs clearance is pictured at a centralized inspection area in Xinhai Port and Nangang Port, two "second line" customs ports, in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

The "first line" refers to Hainan's connection with overseas markets. Meanwhile, the "second line" refers to the customs boundary between Hainan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A truck carrying the first batch of goods that completed customs clearance is pictured at a centralized inspection area in Xinhai Port and Nangang Port, two "second line" customs ports, in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

The "first line" refers to Hainan's connection with overseas markets. Meanwhile, the "second line" refers to the customs boundary between Hainan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Products of Jia Green Chocolate Works (Hainan) Co., Ltd., which are to be sold to the mainland and enjoy duty-free treatment for their value-added processing, receive customs inspection at Haikou Meilan International Airport, a "second line" customs port, in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

The "first line" refers to Hainan's connection with overseas markets. Meanwhile, the "second line" refers to the customs boundary between Hainan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Chen Biqi)

Products of Jia Green Chocolate Works (Hainan) Co., Ltd., which are to be sold to the mainland and enjoy duty-free treatment for their value-added processing, receive customs inspection at Haikou Meilan International Airport, a "second line" customs port, in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

The "first line" refers to Hainan's connection with overseas markets. Meanwhile, the "second line" refers to the customs boundary between Hainan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Chen Biqi)

The first batch of duty-free goods that completed customs clearance is seen after the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

Staff members of customs inspect the first batch of duty-free goods after the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

(251218) -- HAIKOU, Dec. 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Police officers work to help inbound passengers at Haikou Meilan International Airport in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua)

(251218) -- HAIKOU, Dec. 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Inbound passengers pose for photos while waiting for border inspection procedures at Haikou Meilan International Airport in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Photo by Sun Haorong/Xinhua)

People shop at Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

This photo taken on Dec. 18, 2025 shows an interior view of Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

People shop at Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. China on Thursday launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)