HAIKOU /China/, February 27. /TASS/. The Hainan administration will promote the accelerated development of high-tech industry projects in the fields of selective breeding and plant breeding, oceanology and astronautics, the Hainan Daily reported with reference to the Department of Science and Technology of the province.

According to the newspaper, local authorities intend to encourage promising biological developments, deep-sea marine research, to ensure the implementation of programs related to satellite data. Concurrently, it is planned to form an innovation platform, create new incentives for successes in the scientific and production sphere to become a driver for long-term sustainable development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The city of Wenchang (northeast of Hainan) will play an important role in the PRC's program of near-Earth space exploration and the exploration of the universe, the article noted. It has a spaceport as well as a space town with specialized organizations and companies ready for international cooperation.

Liu Chong, Mayor of Wenchang and Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of the city, said that in the near future local authorities are planning to intensively develop the launch pad for commercial rockets, built last year, and to create a rocket industrial cluster at an accelerated pace. One of the key tasks is to establish mass innovative production and low-cost supply chains.

Wenchang International Aerospace City is expected to play a key role in China's launch vehicle program, which is being driven by the efforts of private companies. Hainan Daily noted that this cluster will be primarily market-driven and will provide a world-class platform for interaction with interested partners from other countries. It will also continue to be developed as a key attraction on the island, attracting crowds of tourists.

Innovative crop production and deep-sea projects

According to Yu Tao, director of the Hainan Free Trade Port research center under the South China Sea Research, space science as well as modern seed production and oceanology will provide the province with intensive growth. Its international status is also expected to rise significantly.

The seed-breeding Nanfan Silicon Valley will play a key role in the development of Hainan's biotechnology sector. It is being created in Sanya (southern part of the island) through the joint efforts of the government, business and scientific institutions. This site is expected to develop new plant varieties that will enable China's agricultural and food industries to provide even more high-quality food for consumers.

Because of its geographical location, Hainan is of strategic importance to the PRC in developing offshore hydrocarbon reserves in the South China Sea. Technologies such as the Shenhai-1 deep-sea semi-submersible oil production and storage platform have become an effective method for developing subsea gas fields. This contributes to China's energy security, giving it access to highly sought-after clean fuel resources.

In April 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of a pilot free trade zone and port in Hainan. The program aims to bring the island into the process of globalization and international division of labor, and to lay a solid innovation base. The provincial administration is creating an attractive climate for investors and building a well-developed research infrastructure. According to the government's plan, by 2050 this region will become a unique international cluster with an advanced economy, which will house the campuses of leading universities, advanced laboratories and headquarters of global corporations.