HAIKOU /China/, December 23. /TASS/. China's Hainan Province is implementing a program to develop new productive forces, which will be driven by scientific, technological and innovative projects. Hainan Daily reported that the authorities of China's southernmost region intend to strengthen its economic openness and mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries.

"We will adhere to the principle of open, mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, make efforts to build a platform to promote scientific and innovation cooperation, deepen cooperation and work in the field of training qualified professionals, and ensure even greater concentration of innovation factors such as high-level professionals, technology, foreign-invested research institutes and international organizations in Hainan," the newspaper quoted the deputy director of the Hainan Department of Science and Technology Tan Ge as saying.

According to the official, in order to achieve these goals, over the past three years the provincial administration has stimulated such projects as the One Belt - One Road state laboratory, China-Latin America Sustainable Food Development Innovation Center, provided conditions for promoting innovative cooperation with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and partner structures of special administrative regions of the PRC - Hong Kong and Macao.

On December 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping heard a report on the work of the Hainan Party Committee and People's Government. The Chinese leader pointed out the need to build a multi-level scientific and technological innovation system, integrate national strategic resources, promote international cooperation, establish a more open mechanism for attracting professionals, intensify efforts to master key technologies, introduce advanced developments into production and develop new productive forces, taking into account local characteristics. In this regard, the authors of the paper point out that the province intends to continuously open more channels and work out new incentive measures for the successful growth of Hainan Free Trade Port.

Advanced breeding, alternative energy and deep-sea projects

The paper points out that Hainan's government and enterprises are taking advantage of favorable factors such as warm climate, access to the sea, fadvantageous location and excellent ecology. The Chinese government also has a targeted program to digitize the island's economy. All these features are considered to enable the province to successfully develop new productive forces.

The city of Sanya on Hainan's south coast is taking shape as the so-called China's Silicon Valley of seed breeding, with its cluster of laboratories and enterprises where Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City plays a key role. Lingshui Li Autonomous County in the east and Lingao County in the north of the island are actively persuing deep-sea energy projects. They aim to strengthen the role of the low-carbon economy.

"We are making every effort to promote innovation and interlink production supply chains, vigorously cultivate and develop new productive forces with local characteristics, and strive to build a modernized industrial system with Hainan's characteristics and advantages," said Qing Fu Liu, secretary of the Party Committee and general manager of the Hainan branch of China Huaneng Group.

These projects will be implemented in cooperation with key market players and aim to introduce hydrogen, solar, wind and ocean energy technologies, according to the official. To expand partnerships and attract valuable experts, Hainan authorities regularly hold large-scale forums and conferences.

In April 2018, Xi Jinping announced the establishment of a free trade pilot zone and port on the island. The aim of the program is to bring Hainan into the process of globalization and international division of labor, and to lay a solid foundation for innovation. Local authorities are creating attractive conditions for investors and developing scientific and production infrastructure. According to the government's plan, by 2025, the province's business environment will reach the national level, and by 2050, the region will become a unique international cluster with an advanced economy, which will house campuses of leading universities, advanced laboratories and headquarters of global corporations.