On the evening of October 12, following the conclusion of the 11th World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) Annual Congress, over 50 foreign guest representatives from more than 20 countries and international organizations visited China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD). The delegation included Samir Hamrouni, Chief Executive Officer of the World FZO; Wilson Mbadi, Minister of the State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, the Republic of Uganda; Martin Ibarra, President of Araujo Ibarra International Business Consultants, Colombia; Blanca Sorigue, Director General of Consorci Zona Franca Barcelona; Olufemi Ogunyemi, Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority; Khabib Abdullaev, CEO of Navoi Free Economic Zone, Uzbekistan, among others. The guests toured CIRD’s History Museum and the Exhibition on the History of China’s Reform and Opening-up.

Professor Chi Fulin, President of CIRD, extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He noted that regional economic integration centered on free trade has become a major global trend and that the world today needs dialogue and cooperation more than ever. As China continues to advance its high-level opening-up and as the Hainan Free Trade Port enters a crucial phase of development, Professor Chi encouraged representatives of free zones worldwide to strengthen ties and exchanges with China’s vast market and the Hainan Free Trade Port. CIRD, he emphasized, stands ready to play its role as a leading think tank in facilitating such cooperation.

Dr. Samir Hamrouni expressed appreciation to Professor Chi and CIRD for their strong support in making the World FZO Congress possible in Haikou. He stated that the next step will be to jointly operate the Global Free Zones Research Institute (GFZRI) in close collaboration with CIRD.

Visiting delegates noted that attending the World FZO Congress in Hainan had been highly rewarding. Many foreign guests, visiting China for the first time, said they were deeply impressed by the country’s reform and opening-up achievements. They highlighted that Hainan’s ongoing efforts to build a high-standard free trade port vividly demonstrate China’s firm commitment to further opening-up and advancing free zone development. After visiting CIRD’s exhibitions on reform history, participants commended CIRD’s outstanding contribution as a think tank in promoting China’s reform and opening-up and strengthening international cooperation. They also expressed a strong desire to enhance communication and collaboration with CIRD, to better understand China’s reform experience, and to explore opportunities for linking their own free zones with China’s vast market, including the Hainan Free Trade Port.