HAIKOU /China/, June 16. /TASS/. The southern Chinese province of Hainan, which is implementing a project to create a free trade port, has been developing an international transport hub and strengthening its ties with countries around the world over the past few years, the Hainan Daily newspaper reported.
Given that Hainan is an island province, aviation plays an important role in its transportation infrastructure. The newspaper notes a significant increase in flight frequency to various destinations. For instance, since May 30, the number of flights on the Haikou–Kuala Lumpur route has increased to eight per week, and flights from Haikou to Hong Kong now operate 35 times per week.
New routes are also being launched. On May 7, Hainan Airlines launched direct flights from Haikou to London, establishing the first passenger route between Hainan Province and the United Kingdom. This reduces travel time by approximately 4.5 hours compared to previous flights with transfers.
Hainan Airlines has opened international and regional routes from Haikou to Seattle, London, Moscow, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Vientiane, Hong Kong, Macau, Tokyo, and Osaka, creating a network of airlines covering America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia.
The publication highlights that Hainan is a mere four-hour flight from 21 countries and regions in Asia, which collectively represent 47% of the global population and generate about 30% of the world's GDP. Additionally, it is an eight-hour flight from 59 countries and regions, comprising 67% of the world's population and 41% of global GDP.
To achieve its goal of providing free and accessible transportation, Hainan is actively developing a more open and efficient shipping system to increase the appeal of the Yangpu Port, according to the newspaper. The structure of the province's international shipping fleet is constantly being enriched and optimized.
In November of last year, the Hainan International Ship Registration Administration was officially established, marking the beginning of the country's only international ship registration authority and a new historical stage in the development of Yangpu Port. According to the publication, more than 60 international ships are registered in the port.