Photo: iStock
Eurasia
30/05/2025 15:44
Prior to the symposium, MEP András László, member of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China, together with the MKFB leadership, hosted a closed-door meeting with Cai Zhaohui, Vice Governor of Hainan Province, and his delegation.
The symposium then commenced, attended by MEP András László, members and leaders of MKFB, and prominent institutions involved in Hungarian-Chinese relations. Hungarian participants included HEPA, NAV, and ChinaCham, as well as Hungarian entrepreneurs active in Chinese markets. On the Chinese side, representatives from the Bank of China Hungary, CECZ, SEMCORP, and other companies such as Hainan Airlines were also present.
In his speech, Vice Governor Cai Zhaohui showcased the unique advantages and development potential of China’s southernmost province’s free trade port. He emphasized that alongside its stunning natural beauty, the Hainan Free Trade Port offers a favorable economic environment and is working vigorously to finalize its customs regulation framework. Cai extended a warm invitation to Hungarian friends to invest, do business, and relax on Hainan Island, seizing opportunities for joint development and enhancing friendly cooperation between the two sides.
Guo Gang, Deputy Mayor of Sanya—a city located on Hainan Island—noted that China’s only tropical coastal resort is home to forty international hotel chains, along with charming boutique guesthouses. With 1,400 registered yachts, Sanya is dubbed the “City of a Thousand Yachts” and aims to become the yacht tourism hub of the Asia-Pacific region. The city also holds significant cultural appeal as the host of the Hainan International Film Festival.
Zhao Jing, Director of the Immigration Department at the Hainan Provincial Public Security Bureau, elaborated on China’s and Hainan’s special visa-free policies, which allow Hungarian tourists to stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days.
He added that Hainan boasts 1,944 kilometers of coastline, a tropical climate, advanced infrastructure (including highways and a ring railway), and year-round leisure opportunities. In addition to a vibrant cultural scene, Hainan is also a key venue for high-level political dialogue through the Boao Forum for Asia.
Mária Kovács-Manninger, Vice President of the co-organizer Hungarian-Chinese Youth Friendship Association and former commercial attaché, highlighted in her speech that Hungary has received the most Chinese foreign direct investment within the EU in recent years, and the economic ties between the two countries are dynamically growing. “There are currently seven direct flights between our countries, which significantly facilitates not only tourism but also business relations,” she remarked. She added that the MKFB is committed to supporting Hungarian-Chinese cooperation across economic, cultural, educational, cinematic, and other sectors, and was therefore pleased to collaborate with Hainan Province in organizing the symposium promoting the Hainan Free Trade Port.