Hainan Free Trade Port deepens cooperation with SCO countries

en.hainan.gov.cn

Updated: 2026-09-02

As the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) marks its 25th anniversary this year, cooperation between the Hainan Free Trade Port and SCO countries has continued to expand across trade, tourism, agriculture, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

Hainan is becoming an increasingly important link between China and SCO member states, supported by the free trade port's opening policies, growing international connectivity and expanding cooperation platforms.

Expanding trade and investment ties

Economic cooperation has grown rapidly in recent years.

From January to July 2026, SCO countries established 184 new foreign-invested enterprises in Hainan, an increase of 80.4 percent year-on-year. During the same period, Hainan's trade in services with SCO countries reached 4.69 billion yuan ($689 million), up 16 percent, while goods trade totaled 33.41 billion yuan in the first half of the year, an increase of 56.6 percent.

Hainan has also expanded its network of regional partnerships. The province now has nine sister-city relationships and 30 prospective sister-city relationships with cities in SCO countries. It has also established partnerships 44 free trade zones (ports) across the world, including with 11 special economic zones in eight SCO countries.

For SCO countries, the Hainan Free Trade Port provides a platform for accessing the Chinese market and strengthening links with Southeast Asia and other international markets.

Growing links in tourism and healthcare

Tourism remains one of the most active areas of cooperation.

From January to July, visitors from SCO countries made 599,000 inbound trips to Hainan, accounting for 52.04 percent of all inbound visitors to the province.

Hainan has established direct air links with Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Laos, with 31 routes to nine countries. Visa facilitation measures have further supported travel and exchanges.

Healthcare cooperation is also expanding. The Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of China's first national bases for exporting traditional Chinese medicine services, has established traditional Chinese medicine centers in Almaty and Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

Agricultural and technological cooperation

Agriculture is another important area of cooperation.

Research institutions including the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences and the National Nanfan Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have carried out exchanges with SCO countries in areas such as personnel training, germplasm resources and agricultural technology.

Hainan has also stepped up cooperation in agricultural training and pest control, while trade in agricultural products with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan has grown significantly.

Science and technology cooperation is gaining momentum as well. In Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City in Sanya, research institutions are advancing projects on soybean breeding, marine science and equipment, and other fields with partners from Russia and Belarus.

Strengthening people-to-people ties

Education and cultural exchanges are adding a broader social dimension to Hainan-SCO cooperation.

Universities in Hainan have established joint programs and cooperative institutions with universities in SCO countries, while 1,320 students from SCO countries are currently studying in Hainan.

These exchanges are helping build long-term connections between young people and creating new opportunities for cooperation after students return to their home countries.

A growing platform for SCO cooperation

Hainan's cooperation with SCO countries reflects the broader development of the SCO, which has evolved over the past 25 years into a major regional cooperation organization spanning a broad range of economic, cultural and humanitarian fields.

As the Hainan Free Trade Port continues to expand its high-level opening-up, the province is expected to deepen cooperation with SCO countries in trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, education and science and technology, creating more opportunities for mutually beneficial development.