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Hainan free trade port moves to forefront of China's opening-up drive

Canada News.Net

2 hours ago

Canada News.Net

Hainan free trade port moves to forefront of China's opening-up drive

HAIKOU, June 21 (Xinhua) -- For Canadian visitor Stephanie Wing See Yau, the therapy experience at a care center in Bo'ao, a coastal city in China's southernmost island province of Hainan, felt more like "a vacation." "This place is top-notch. They cater to so many aspects of wellness, not just physical, but mental too," she told Xinhua during her stay in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, which hosts over 30 top-tier domestic and international medical institutions. Thanks to special policy support, the pilot zone has introduced 485 cutting-edge medicines and medical devices that are licensed abroad but not yet available in the domestic market. The policy has benefited more than 130,000 patients, including individuals like Yau. Her four-day experience -- blending advanced health screenings, traditional therapies, tea ceremonies, and cultural immersion -- offers much more than just a chance to relax. It showcases a tangible outcome of a key move in China's opening-up strategy: the transformation of Hainan into a Free Trade Port (FTP). As the Hainan FTP is set to begin independent customs operations by the end of the year, it is poised to become not only a tourist haven but also a pivotal gateway for China's opening-up drive. FRONTIER FOR FREE-FLOWING FACTORS A central component of this transformation is the Lecheng medical tourism pilot zone. A total of 25 medical tourism routes have been rolled out to cater to a wide range of needs, including traditional Chinese medicine, chronic disease care, luxury diagnostics and cosmetic rehab, garnering popularity among visitors from countries such as Indonesia, Russia, Spain, and beyond. In 2024, the medical special zone attracted over 410,000 medical visitors, up 36.76 percent year on year. Lecheng is only one part of Hainan's wider push for opening up. Beyond the medical sector, the province has been fast-tracking foreign access across sectors ranging from finance and education to communication and high-tech industries, as China aims to build an FTP with global top-tier trade standards. Hainan, supported by the country's vast domestic market and its strategic positioning, stands as a vital hub that connects the world's second-largest economy with global markets. The FTP is gearing up to be "a pivotal gateway leading China's new era of opening-up," said Chi Fulin, head of the China Institute for Reform and Development. With independent customs operations imminent, the FTP's policy framework, underpinned by features like zero tariffs, low tax rates, simplified tax systems and facilitated factor flows, has taken shape. For firms in Lecheng, a zero-tariff policy on medical imports has saved nearly 8.2 million yuan (about 1.14 million U.S. dollars) in duties since December 2024. The start of independent customs operations will represent a concrete step toward building a major gateway for China's high-level opening-up, Chi said. INSTITUTIONAL OPENING-UP LURING FOREIGN CAPITAL As Hainan FTP has prioritized institutional integration and coordination across trade, finance and regulatory systems, experts believe this will create a powerful driving force for the development of the FTP and contribute to China's high-standard opening up strategy. Official data showed that so far, the province has rolled out a total of 158 institutional innovation cases. These reform measures include technology-empowered public tendering, one-stop business licensing, and a specialized IP zone to support the seed industry. Hainan FTP serves not only as a testing ground for free-flowing goods, services and data, but as a frontier for the innovation of regulations and mechanisms, said Zhou Xiaochuan, vice chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). With its optimized business environment, Hainan has emerged as a premier foreign investment destination, ranking among China's top performers. In 2024, the number of foreign-invested enterprises in Hainan rose 19.2 percent year on year, while its foreign direct investment volume climbed to the tenth spot nationally. To date, Hainan has attracted investment from 158 countries and regions, while its economic openness ratio -- the ratio of total trade to GDP -- more than doubled from 17.3 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2024. High-profile events held in the province like the BFA, a premier platform advocating openness and multilateral cooperation, and the China International Consumer Products Expo, the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific region, offer global investors dynamic gateways to observe the country's evolving openness agenda. DFS, the travel retail company of the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, in 2024 sealed its largest single investment in 60 years to launch a landmark complex in Yalong Bay of Sanya, the well-known tropical resort city in Hainan. The project will merge luxury retail, hotels and entertainment, with the goal of building a top destination for luxury shopping and tourism. "Hainan FTP embodies China's commitment to high-standard openness," said Nancy Liu, president of DFS China. China's special economic zones, like Hainan FTP and the 21 pilot free trade zones, serve as pivotal engines for industrial transformation and opening up, Chi noted, highlighting their role as "growth accelerators for both regional and global economies." When the independent customs operations begin, Hainan FTP will create key opportunities for international enterprises to access China's domestic market more efficiently, and play a greater role in enhancing market connectivity with global markets through service trade-focused regulatory alignment, he added.

Beauty through an Indigenous lens with Cheekbone Beauty's Jenn Harper

Global News

4 hours ago

Global News

Beauty through an Indigenous lens with Cheekbone Beauty's Jenn Harper

The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms. It all started with a dream. In January 2015, Anishinaabe-Canadian Jenn Harper had a vision in her sleep of Indigenous girls playfully smearing on lip gloss. 'I woke up and wrote it all down. At the time, I didn't even know what to do with it,' Harper says. 'But it sparked something in me. It felt like a sign that I was meant to do something bigger.' A decade later, Cheekbone Beauty is a powerful force in the beauty world, bringing long-overdue representation to Indigenous peoples and carving out space in the mainstream, including a coveted spot on Sephora's shelves. The brand is rooted in Harper's heritage and a profound respect for the planet. From biodegradable packaging to ethically sourced ingredients, it aligns with the traditional Indigenous belief of caring for the land. 'Our cultures have always embraced sustainability, long before it became a buzzword,' Harper says. 'I'm just honouring what my ancestors taught me.' Story continues below advertisement Despite Cheekbone Beauty's success, the journey hasn't been a breeze. Harper has faced the usual hurdles of building a brand from the ground up, plus the weight of being a trailblazer in a predominantly non-Indigenous industry. But her mission keeps her grounded. 'It's more than lipstick or blush,' she explains. 'It's about reclaiming narratives and building a future where Indigenous youth see limitless possibilities.' Cheekbone Beauty continues to grow, gaining loyal customers who are drawn not just to the quality of the products, but to the brand's unique blend of ancestral wisdom with modern beauty. And the best part? Each shade and formulation celebrates diverse skin tones and natural finishes. As Harper puts it, 'Beauty is powerful. It can either exclude or empower. I want Cheekbone to always empower.' In honour of International Indigenous Peoples' Day, read on for our top picks from Indigenous-owned beauty brands you should know. The multi-use complexion pencil Cheekbone Beauty Unify Multi Pencil A versatile must-have, the Unify Multi Pencil is designed for seamless colour correction. Use it to line lips, highlight features or conceal with precision. Its creamy, buildable formula works across skin tones for a natural finish you'll love. $25 at Sephora Story continues below advertisement The holistic soap Mother Nature Cleanse: Sacred Soap Inspired by the sacred Medicine Wheel, this four-piece soap set blends traditional Indigenous teachings with natural ingredients. Each bar–Sweetgrass, Tobacco Patchouli, Wildmint Sage and Cedar Balsam—honours one direction and offers a cleansing, grounding ritual. $36 at Mother Earth The nourishing face oil Sḵwálwen Botanicals Kalkáy (Wild Rose) Nourishing Facial Oil Sḵwálwen's best-seller for a reason, this nourishing face oil blends vitamin-rich rosehip seed–known for its restorative properties in Squamish culture–with sweet almond and jojoba oils to soothe irritation and restore balance. $64 at Sḵwálwen Botanicals Story continues below advertisement The potent acne set Wildcraft Acne Prone Skincare Set A clarifying daily ritual for oily or breakout-prone skin, this five-step set uses powerful natural ingredients to help reduce blemishes, balance oil and reveal a clear, healthy glow. $142 at Wildcraft The two-in-one blender brush Blended Girl Cosmetics Pro Foundation & Concealer Brush This dense, angled brush is designed to reach tricky areas like the base of the nose, under the eyes and around the chin. Bonus: it's vegan & cruelty free. $10 at Blended Girl Cosmetics Story continues below advertisement The *dreamy* bath bomb Spirit Earth Holistics Dreamcatcher Bath Bomb Made by hand with natural ingredients and certified organic essential oils, this dreamy bath bomb is a blissful treat. Infused with nourishing coconut oil and soothing witch hazel, it leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed. $10 at Spirit Earth Holistics You may also like: Courage Cream Lip & Cheek – $27 Harmony Lipgloss – $28 Story continues below advertisement Balance Blush Bronzer – $30 SUSTAIN Lipstick – $34 Uprise Mascara – $34

Canada Standard

11 hours ago

Canada Standard

Hainan free trade port moves to forefront of China's opening-up drive

HAIKOU, June 21 (Xinhua) -- For Canadian visitor Stephanie Wing See Yau, the therapy experience at a care center in Bo'ao, a coastal city in China's southernmost island province of Hainan, felt more like "a vacation." "This place is top-notch. They cater to so many aspects of wellness, not just physical, but mental too," she told Xinhua during her stay in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, which hosts over 30 top-tier domestic and international medical institutions. Thanks to special policy support, the pilot zone has introduced 485 cutting-edge medicines and medical devices that are licensed abroad but not yet available in the domestic market. The policy has benefited more than 130,000 patients, including individuals like Yau. Her four-day experience -- blending advanced health screenings, traditional therapies, tea ceremonies, and cultural immersion -- offers much more than just a chance to relax. It showcases a tangible outcome of a key move in China's opening-up strategy: the transformation of Hainan into a Free Trade Port (FTP). As the Hainan FTP is set to begin independent customs operations by the end of the year, it is poised to become not only a tourist haven but also a pivotal gateway for China's opening-up drive. FRONTIER FOR FREE-FLOWING FACTORS A central component of this transformation is the Lecheng medical tourism pilot zone. A total of 25 medical tourism routes have been rolled out to cater to a wide range of needs, including traditional Chinese medicine, chronic disease care, luxury diagnostics and cosmetic rehab, garnering popularity among visitors from countries such as Indonesia, Russia, Spain, and beyond. In 2024, the medical special zone attracted over 410,000 medical visitors, up 36.76 percent year on year. Lecheng is only one part of Hainan's wider push for opening up. Beyond the medical sector, the province has been fast-tracking foreign access across sectors ranging from finance and education to communication and high-tech industries, as China aims to build an FTP with global top-tier trade standards. Hainan, supported by the country's vast domestic market and its strategic positioning, stands as a vital hub that connects the world's second-largest economy with global markets. The FTP is gearing up to be "a pivotal gateway leading China's new era of opening-up," said Chi Fulin, head of the China Institute for Reform and Development. With independent customs operations imminent, the FTP's policy framework, underpinned by features like zero tariffs, low tax rates, simplified tax systems and facilitated factor flows, has taken shape. For firms in Lecheng, a zero-tariff policy on medical imports has saved nearly 8.2 million yuan (about 1.14 million U.S. dollars) in duties since December 2024. The start of independent customs operations will represent a concrete step toward building a major gateway for China's high-level opening-up, Chi said. INSTITUTIONAL OPENING-UP LURING FOREIGN CAPITAL As Hainan FTP has prioritized institutional integration and coordination across trade, finance and regulatory systems, experts believe this will create a powerful driving force for the development of the FTP and contribute to China's high-standard opening up strategy. Official data showed that so far, the province has rolled out a total of 158 institutional innovation cases. These reform measures include technology-empowered public tendering, one-stop business licensing, and a specialized IP zone to support the seed industry. Hainan FTP serves not only as a testing ground for free-flowing goods, services and data, but as a frontier for the innovation of regulations and mechanisms, said Zhou Xiaochuan, vice chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). With its optimized business environment, Hainan has emerged as a premier foreign investment destination, ranking among China's top performers. In 2024, the number of foreign-invested enterprises in Hainan rose 19.2 percent year on year, while its foreign direct investment volume climbed to the tenth spot nationally. To date, Hainan has attracted investment from 158 countries and regions, while its economic openness ratio -- the ratio of total trade to GDP -- more than doubled from 17.3 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2024. High-profile events held in the province like the BFA, a premier platform advocating openness and multilateral cooperation, and the China International Consumer Products Expo, the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific region, offer global investors dynamic gateways to observe the country's evolving openness agenda. DFS, the travel retail company of the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, in 2024 sealed its largest single investment in 60 years to launch a landmark complex in Yalong Bay of Sanya, the well-known tropical resort city in Hainan. The project will merge luxury retail, hotels and entertainment, with the goal of building a top destination for luxury shopping and tourism. "Hainan FTP embodies China's commitment to high-standard openness," said Nancy Liu, president of DFS China. China's special economic zones, like Hainan FTP and the 21 pilot free trade zones, serve as pivotal engines for industrial transformation and opening up, Chi noted, highlighting their role as "growth accelerators for both regional and global economies." When the independent customs operations begin, Hainan FTP will create key opportunities for international enterprises to access China's domestic market more efficiently, and play a greater role in enhancing market connectivity with global markets through service trade-focused regulatory alignment, he added.

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Hainan free trade port moves to forefront of China's opening-up drive

Beauty through an Indigenous lens with Cheekbone Beauty's Jenn Harper

Hainan free trade port moves to forefront of China's opening-up drive

6 bronzers for sun-kissed skin without the sun

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Hainan free trade port moves to forefront of China's opening-up drive

Beauty through an Indigenous lens with Cheekbone Beauty's Jenn Harper

Hainan free trade port moves to forefront of China's opening-up drive

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