The second Hainan–ASEAN Overseas Returnees Exchange Conference will take place in Chengmai County, Hainan Province, from October 29 to 31, 2026. The event will bring together representatives of diplomatic corps and other ASEAN institutions in China, business association leaders, trade and economic experts, investors, entrepreneurs with international study or work experience, and young innovators and startup founders. Discussions will focus on talent exchange, industrial cooperation, and cross-border investment between the Hainan Free Trade Port and ASEAN countries.

Co-hosted by the Hainan Provincial Joint Office of Five Associations and the Chengmai County People's Government, the conference aims to draw on the international experience and networks of overseas returnees to strengthen business connections while also providing opportunities for Hainan companies looking to enter ASEAN markets and for ASEAN businesses and investors interested in the Hainan Free Trade Port to exchange information and explore potential partnerships.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for the morning of October 30. Zhao Jinping, a research fellow and former director-general of the Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations at the Development Research Center of the State Council, and Pan Rongde, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Economic and Trade Promotion Association, are among the trade and economic experts expected to participate. They will join representatives of investment institutions in discussions on regional trade and investment cooperation, market trends, and strategies for businesses expanding internationally.

The opening ceremony will also include cooperation agreement signings, official ceremonies opening overseas talent attraction liaison offices, and the appointment of youth exchange representatives. The event will include business association inter-cooperation, the development of Hainan–ASEAN talent networks, and connections between potential industry project partners.

Chengmai County will also present key industries, industrial parks, and measures to help local businesses expand overseas. Officials from the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development and the ASEAN-China Economic and Trade Promotion Association will share information on Hainan Free Trade Port policies and cooperation with ASEAN in industry and talent development, offering practical insights for businesses and entrepreneurs considering cross-border operations.

In addition to the opening ceremony, the conference will feature five themed sessions covering opportunities in ASEAN markets, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, cultural exchange, and matchmaking for innovation and startup projects.

The session on ASEAN market opportunities will examine regional trade and investment trends, practical lessons from companies entering ASEAN markets, and the challenges businesses face when expanding across borders.

Another session will examine the one-person company (OPC) model, in which individual founders use AI and other digital tools to run small businesses. Representatives of startup organizations and investment institutions from different regions will discuss how the model is developing and explore opportunities for such ventures to establish or expand operations in Chengmai.

The AI and robotics session will bring together Chinese and international experts and representatives of industry-focused investment funds to discuss commercial applications of embodied AI and potential uses in ASEAN markets. A separate arts and culture session will gather performing arts groups from ASEAN countries and bearers of Hainan's intangible cultural heritage to explore digital cultural product development and cross-border trade in cultural goods and services.

A digital economy startup matchmaking session will give entrepreneurs with overseas experience an opportunity to pitch technology projects and meet potential investors and business partners. Discussions will focus on applications of digital technologies and opportunities for cross-border business development.

The program also includes cultural activities and visits to local industries. On the evening of October 30, a concert bringing together overseas returnees is scheduled to take place at the Micro-City Theater of Hainan Micro-City Future School. Featuring Chinese and Western instrumental music alongside traditional Hainan folk performances, the event will offer participants from different countries and regions an opportunity for cultural exchange.

On October 31, delegates will also attend the 2026 China·Chengmai International Economic and Trade Fair and visit key industrial parks in Chengmai in separate groups. The visits will give participants a closer look at local industries, the business environment, and innovation and startup projects. By combining conference discussions with visits to companies and industrial parks, organizers hope to create further opportunities for potential partners to connect.

As one of the Hainan Free Trade Port's key industrial development areas, Chengmai is seeking closer ties with ASEAN markets through cooperation in the digital economy, smart manufacturing, and cross-border services. By bringing talent exchange and business matchmaking together, the conference will provide another platform for two-way investment, technological cooperation, and cultural exchange between Hainan and ASEAN.