By Bi Yantao
On December 18, 2025, the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will officially commence customs closure operations. This marks a major milestone in China’s reform and opening-up process and serves as a symbolic manifestation of the country’s commitment to institutional innovation and openness. The progress of Hainan FTP is not only vital to the province’s future development but also a key window through which the international community observes China’s path toward openness and its logic of global governance.
At present, as the global geopolitical landscape undergoes rapid transformation and the world economy experiences structural reshaping, international perceptions of China’s institutional innovation have become a critical variable influencing the construction of the Hainan FTP. Therefore, Hainan’s development should go beyond political and economic dimensions to enhance the international acceptability of its institutions and practices, thereby consolidating a cognitive foundation for international cooperation and mutual benefit.
Current observations suggest that the Hainan decision-making system still needs to deepen its understanding of the international communication ecosystem. One of the main challenges in international communication about the Hainan FTP lies in addressing the complex issue of “Hainan as China’s Hainan.” Unless political correctness and technical correctness are effectively integrated, policy dividends may fail to translate into international recognition, thereby constraining the overall effectiveness of Hainan’s institution-based opening-up.
In light of the above, the following three recommendations are respectfully submitted for consideration by the provincial leadership.
I. Enhance Decision-Makers’ International Communication Literacy and Strategic Communication Awareness
The goal of international communication is to articulate development philosophies, policy intentions, and institutional advantages to the international community, thereby enhancing understanding, building trust, and fostering cooperation. As General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized during the 31 May 2021 collective study session of the CPC Central Political Bureau, “It is necessary to strengthen the training of leading cadres in international communication.” This directive is both timely and crucial. Providing such training for provincial leaders is an essential step toward improving Hainan’s international communication capacity and represents a fundamental infrastructure requirement for international engagement.
Accordingly, it is recommended that the Provincial Party Committee organize systematic study sessions on international communication fundamentals. Through such learning, decision-makers can better understand international cognitive logics and integrate domestic development needs with international acceptability in policy formulation and implementation. This approach will help reduce external misperceptions, mitigate policy resistance, strengthen international trust, and expand cooperation opportunities. Moreover, a solid grasp of international communication principles will enhance leaders’ ability to identify capable talents, sound advice, and effective projects.
II. Establish an “International Advisory Committee on Hainan FTP Communication”
To strengthen Hainan’s capacity for global policy interpretation and institutional dialogue, it is recommended that the province establish an “International Advisory Committee on Hainan FTP Communication,” forming a high-level global think tank urgently needed by the province. Members should be selected worldwide based on their solid academic backgrounds in international communication and international relations, as well as their rich practical experience in international engagement. They should be capable of conveying China’s policy logic to global audiences with accuracy and clarity.
The committee would monitor and report trends in the international communication environment, identify key developments and potential risks affecting Hainan FTP, and propose corresponding interpretive and response strategies. It would assist Hainan in building a globally oriented institutional communication mechanism and cooperation network to ensure accurate understanding of the FTP’s policy rationale. The committee would also help Hainan prevent and mitigate major cognitive risks, thereby enhancing international recognition and the overall influence of its institution-based openness.
III. Improve the Identification and Selection of International Communication Talents
At present, there are two main groups engaged in China’s international communication: one that understands and respects the discipline’s inherent rules, and another that seeks to replace communication logic with thinking from other disciplines. Both operate under the banner of international communication, yet they exist as parallel worlds—occasional cooperation between them often occurs only when the latter seeks the former’s endorsement. The former tends to be modest and rigorous; the latter, more visible but less disciplined. Selecting the right kind of talent will be a great blessing for Hainan, while misjudgment in this regard may send unfavorable signals of “mismanagement in talent selection.”
It is therefore suggested that the Provincial Party Committee establish a comprehensive mechanism for identifying, training, utilizing, and evaluating international communication professionals, ensuring precision and efficiency in personnel selection and use. The ideal candidates should understand both China’s logic and international discourse, be capable of accurately translating policy meanings across cultural and linguistic contexts, and demonstrate both expertise in communication and commitment to Hainan’s FTP development. Building such a talent system will enable Hainan to maintain smooth and effective institutional dialogue with the world and secure the cognitive legitimacy essential for international cooperation.
Postscript
As a “New Hainaner” who has lived and worked in the province for 21 years, and as an international communication scholar with 35 years of professional experience, I deeply understand the strategic significance of the Hainan Free Trade Port to both the nation and the province. I fully support the strategic initiatives of the CPC Central Committee and the Hainan Provincial Government in advancing FTP construction and stand ready to contribute my expertise and insights to its international communication endeavors.
I have chosen to present these recommendations publicly, hoping to make use of a more transparent and controllable communication channel so that my suggestions can be fully shared with the public. I believe that ensuring smooth feedback channels and allowing professional opinions to reach decision-makers directly exemplify Hainan’s institutional innovation and governance modernization. In doing so, Hainan will also provide a compelling case of international communication in practice.
(The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not represent the positions of any institution.)
Bi Yantao is a Professor at the School of International Communication and Art, Hainan University, and a Senior Fellow at the Charhar Institute.
