Hainan Economic and Industrial New Observation: Fully Integrating into China's "Global 123 Express Cargo Logistics Network"

China News Service Haikou, March 15 — (Reporter Fu Yuqun) By 2035, fully integrated into China’s “Global 123 Fast Cargo Logistics Circle,” achieving same-day delivery within the country, two-day delivery to neighboring countries, and three-day delivery to major global cities, strengthening logistics and transportation support for the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port. This is the development goal clearly outlined in the recently announced “Hainan Province Comprehensive Multidimensional Transportation Network Planning Outline” (hereinafter referred to as the “Outline”).

As Hainan Free Trade Port construction advances comprehensively, the economic, population, industrial development patterns, and transportation demands in Hainan will undergo significant changes. It is predicted that from 2024 to 2035, the province’s freight volume will grow at an average annual rate of about 10%, with shipping hub freight increasing at a similar rate; demand for high-value, small-batch, time-sensitive freight will rise rapidly.

Therefore, the “Outline” proposes that by 2035, Hainan will have basically established a modern, high-quality integrated multidimensional transportation network that is convenient, efficient, culturally rich, green, intensive, intelligent, advanced, safe, and reliable. It will enable interconnection within and outside the province, connect cities (counties) at the node level in three dimensions, continuously improve comprehensive transportation service capacity and quality, make passenger transfer seamless and convenient, and promote efficient multimodal freight transport. The goal is to realize the “Hainan 1234 Travel Traffic Circle” (Haikou Economic Circle, Sanya Economic Circle, Danzhou-Yangpu Economic Circle with commuting within 1 hour; Haikou, Sanya, and other major cities within 2 hours; the entire island within 3 hours; and major cities nationwide and Southeast Asian cities within 4 hours), fully integrating into China’s “Global 123 Fast Cargo Logistics Circle.”

According to the “Outline,” by 2035, Hainan will have basically built an international shipping hub oriented toward global openness, a comprehensive international aviation hub connecting the country and facing the “Two Oceans,” and a safe, efficient, and convenient sea-land gateway hub linking Hainan with inland provinces, with significantly improved coverage and connectivity of air and sea routes.

In developing the international shipping hub, Hainan will leverage the Yangpu International Hub Port to enhance its strategic position as a key node connecting the Western Land-Sea New Corridor, RCEP countries, and the Belt and Road Initiative, constructing a regional container hub port, a distinctive “industrial port” for the Hainan Free Trade Port, and an innovative shipping service platform.

Meanwhile, Hainan will expand routes to Europe, America, Australia-New Zealand, and the Middle East, gradually building a network of domestic and international trade routes that connect dual circulation. It will also seek to expand the scope of the “international transfer” model for outbound container cargo through Yangpu, gradually pilot management of such cargo under this model.

For the international aviation hub, Hainan will rely on the Haikou Meilan Airport, Sanya Phoenix Airport, and Sanya New Airport as the core of the Hainan airport cluster, enhancing its hub level and node status in the global aviation network, strengthening integrated coordination, increasing effective supply and service capacity, boosting international tourism cooperation, actively developing airport economy, and building an international aviation hub that connects the country, faces the “Two Oceans,” and links the world.

To improve transportation across the Qiongzhou Strait, Hainan will develop an intensive, systematic, and diversified cross-strait integrated transportation corridor, promote the development of cross-strait rail and high-speed rail transportation, and explore multi-modal cross-strait intermodal transport such as container “road-water-road.” This will form a multi-faceted development pattern with complementary advantages, differentiated development, and integrated linkage, including passenger roll-on/roll-off ferries, railway ferries, and multi-modal transport.

Additionally, Hainan will promote innovation in international multimodal transport “single-window” systems, actively pilot the legalization of international multimodal transport documents and property rights, continuously improve port clearance efficiency and facilitation, encourage services like international transfer and cargo consolidation, and achieve cost reduction and efficiency gains through institutional reforms. It will accelerate the cultivation of international, platform-based, comprehensive logistics supply chain enterprises, improve the supply chain network facing “Two Oceans” and radiating nationwide, explore innovative transportation organizations such as roll-on/roll-off shipping across the Qiongzhou Strait, and realize market-oriented cost reduction and efficiency enhancement.

Previously, Hainan issued 18 measures to coordinate and promote effective reduction of logistics costs across the province. According to the “Hainan Province Implementation Plan for Effectively Reducing Logistics Costs for the Whole Society (2025–2027),” by 2027, the total social logistics costs in Hainan will not exceed 14.5% of GDP (excluding factors related to “China Yangpu Port”). The freight transportation capacity will be further improved, freight structure optimized, logistics operation systems refined, and key areas such as transportation, logistics, and warehousing will see cost reductions and efficiency improvements. This will create a market environment conducive to lowering overall social logistics costs and better support the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port. (End)