Ｈａｉｎａｎ——Ｓｐｒｉｎｇｔｉｍｅ ｉｎ ａｎ Ｏｐｅｎ Ｐｒｏｖｉｎｃｅ

ＣＨＥＮ　ＺＨＩＹＵＡＮ

ITS springtime in Hainan, literally in terms of the season, but also figuratively in terms of an ongoing era of rebirth for the tropical island. Hainan is Chinas southernmost territory, and the nations smallest province in terms of land area. Size is no reflection of status, however. The island is famous as a holiday resort of azure skies, bright sunshine, fresh air and unspoiled beaches.

Hainans provincial status is comparatively recent. On April 13, 1988, Hainan was established not only as a province, but also as Chinas largest “special economic zone.” In the 20 years since, the island has gone from an undeveloped backwater to an area of growing affluence, rising living standards and rapid development. In 2007 alone, provincial GDP grew by 14.5 percent. Total local revenue swelled by 41 percent, and average net incomes in the islands urban and rural areas increased by 16 and 18 percent, respectively.

The opening-up of the local economy is reflected in efforts to promote Hainan as an international air hub. In 2007, the government adjusted aviation policy on the island to bring it into line with international practices, and liberalization of the aviation industry is continuing apace.

With an optimal investment climate, Hainan has become a hotspot for Chinese and international businesspeople. In 2005, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Hainan Provincial Committee published Decisions on Enhancing the Construction of the Investment Environment. Since then domestic and international enterprises have flooded into the province, and many compatriots are returning home to invest in their home province.

Hainan has also benefited from regional economic integration. To further this cooperative trend, recent years have seen local authorities organize large high-level delegations to attend various regional cooperative conferences. More than 100 cooperative projects have been established, amounting to nearly RMB 100 billion in investments. These deals have stimulated the economies of both Hainan and neighboring areas, fostering an era of regional prosperity.

Development has not all been about business though. As Wei Liucheng, sectary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, once declared, “The problems that most concern common people must be solved well.” As the local economy has grown, the provincial government has continually increased spending on education, culture, sanitation, science and technology.

In 2005, for example, Hainan took the lead in implementing the national financial aid policy that exempts students from poor families – urban or rural – from miscellaneous fees. This includes the cost of textbooks. The policy also provides living allowances for boarding students throughout their period of compulsory education.

Meanwhile, the provincial government also invested in renovating dangerous school buildings and implementing a modern distance learning project in its rural areas. By the end of 2006, Hainan had become the first of the developing provinces to eradicate crumbling buildings in its rural grade schools, and its modern distance learning project had been introduced across the province.

Also in 2006, Hainan implemented the new rural cooperative medical system, some two years ahead of the national schedule. By June 2007, the scheme covered 89.5 percent of rural people on the island. Basic medical insurance has also been launched for urban residents.

Cultural events, both of a popular and more highbrow nature, have been steadily increasing across Hainan. The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, the Miss World Final, and the Tour of Hainan Island Cycling Race were all hosted with great success. Ethnic handicrafts such as “the Li peoples traditional cotton textile technology” have been marketed to the world, while over 20 theatrical works, like Da Da Se, Huang Daopo and Su Dongpo in Hainan, have won national awards.

Mass activities to promote social progress and the raising of living standards have been launched, such as the construction of ecological villages. This has transformed the appearance of rural areas and farmers morale. Hainan currently has 7,774 ecological settlements, representing 33.4 percent of the provinces villages. The program has set an example to the rest of the nation in the construction of a new socialist countryside.

Tourism is one of Hainans biggest industries, a result of the islands warm climate and rich natural surroundings. As well as primeval forests and volcanoes, Hainan features fascinating scenic spots and ethnic customs. Whats more, as Chinas largest special economic zone, Hainan offers very favorable entry policies for foreign tourists. Visitors from Japan, Singapore and Brunei can enter without visas, while tour groups of more than five members from Russia and 20 other countries can visit for up to 15 days without a visa. Tourists from most other countries with foreign relations or official trade contacts with China can obtain visas on arrival.

The 8.45 million people of Hai-nan are basking in the success of their open and ecologically friendly strategy of economic development. No doubt their energy and industry will continue to make the special economic zone a green, prosperous and harmonious island province.