The island-wide special Customs operations at Hainan Free Trade Port are set to begin on Dec 18. In an exclusive interview with China Perspective, Zhang Xiangchen, deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, said that island's special Customs operations represent a substantive step in China's opening-up. Hainan serves as a "testing ground" and a "stress test" — by trialing policies, making adjustments and refining systems, it can offer replicable experiences to other regions in the country.