"Setting up SEZs was an important measure of China's reform and opening-up. The SEZs have played a pioneering role in prompting the reform," said Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang at the celebration ceremony.
Li asked the island province to build itself into a shipping hub, logistic center and export processing base for southeast Asia.
Founded on the same date 20 years ago, Hainan SEZ was a pioneer in experimenting with the market economy, developing the land with foreign investment, implementing a provincial insurance system, abolishing the agricultural tax and school fees for nine-year compulsory education.
Photo taken on April 26, 2008 shows the venue of the celebration ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of China's southernmost Hainan Province, the largest special economic zone in the country, in Haikou, capital of Hainan.
(Xinhua Photo)
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The province also unveiled on Friday a blueprint aiming at building itself into a major international tourist destination by 2028.
The province will continue to implement its visa-free policies for tourists and open up aviation rights, introduce renowned overseas travel agencies and hotel management corporations, according to the action plan for the long-term goal of a first-class international tourist island.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (C) visits the exhibition on the achivements of China's southernmost Hainan Province, the largest special economic zone in the country, in Haikou, capital of Hainan Province, on April 26, 2008. A celebration ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Hainan Province, was held on Saturday.
(Xinhua Photo)
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With an area of 34,000 square kilometers, tropical and sub-tropical Hainan was established in 1988 as a province and approved as a special economic zone enjoying preferential development policies.
The other four SEZs are
Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen, all in southern China.
President Hu visits Hainan to attend int'l economic forum
Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd L) learns cowpea's growth and sale from farmer Huang Zhengguang (1st R) of the Li ethnic group at Shandao Village of Jianfeng Town in Ledong Li Autonomous County, south China's Hainan Province, April 8, 2008. President Hu made an inspection tour in Hainan Province on April 7-9. (Xinhua Photo)
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Beijing, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao inspected the southern province of Hainan before attending the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) opening on Saturday.
The forum, April 11-13, is a platform for high-level interaction between leaders from Asia and the world. Boao has been the permanent venue of the annual regional economic forum since 2001. Full story
China's Hainan Island unveils blueprint for int'l tourist island
HAIKOU, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's southern island province of Hainan unveiled on Friday a blueprint aiming to build itself into an international tourist destination by 2028.
Chen Cheng, Hainan's vice governor, said at a press conference here the province would take about 20 years to internationalize its tourism facilities, services, products and improve the environment.
