The recent visit of Massimo Ambrosetti and Valerio De Parolis to Hainan underscored Italy’s growing interest in the island’s development as a Free Trade Port (FTP) and its potential for bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Ambrosetti meets with Feng Fei, Party Secretary of Hainan on March 29, in Haikou. Photo: courtesy of the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou.

Taking place from March 29 to 31, the visit marked the Ambassador’s first official trip to Hainan and offered an opportunity to assess how Italian businesses, institutions, and the broader community might benefit from the island’s preferential policies and international outlook.

On March 29, Ambassador Ambrosetti held an official meeting with Feng Fei, Party Secretary of Hainan. During the exchange, both sides discussed ways to strengthen ties between Italy and Hainan, with particular attention to the opportunities created by the FTP. The meeting highlighted a shared interest in deepening economic and institutional collaboration, positioning Hainan as a gateway for Italian engagement with the Chinese market.

Ambassador Ambrosetti noted, “Italy monitors with interest the Province’s growing role as a bridge to Chinese mainland in the perspective of seizing the opportunities arising from the priority sectors supported under the new Free Trade Port, which could foster closer interaction between our respective economic systems.”

The Ambassador and the Consul General visit Jiangdong New Area on March 30. Photo: courtesy of the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou

Subsequent visits to the Jiangdong New District and the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau provided further insight into the island’s development strategy and investment environment. Local officials outlined areas of cooperation for Italian enterprises, while Ambassador Ambrosetti addressed the broader challenges faced by Italian companies in China: “Italian companies, particularly exporting SMEs, at times face difficulties to access the Chinese market, due to regulatory, tariff, logistical, and operational factors. In this context, the Hainan Free Trade Port may offer some concrete responses to these challenges, offering a simplified operating environment characterized by a zero-tariff regime, autonomous customs arrangements, and targeted fiscal incentives.” He further stated that “the Hainan Free Trade Port has introduced a range of interesting policies and measures, such as the preferential tariff regime, which allows companies to benefit from fiscal and tariff exemptions upon reaching certain value-added thresholds.”

Beyond institutional meetings, the visit included engagements with the Italian business and academic community in the province, as well as site visits to key development platforms such as the Lingshui Li'an International Education Innovation Zone and the Hongzhou Yacht Marina, where discussions touched on cooperation in education, tourism, and the marine economy.

An official meeting between the Italian delegation and Party Secretary of Hainan Feng Fei. Photo: courtesy of the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou.

Several areas of potential collaboration between Italy and Hainan are already emerging. During the visit to the Hongzhou Yacht Marina in Sanya, the Ambassador highlighted potential collaborations in the maritime sector, particularly yachting, “Italy boasts internationally recognized expertise in design, construction, and services,” while Hainan’s investment in ports and nautical infrastructure creates space for partnerships. In jewelry, “We are considering Hainan’s policies, which encourage value-added processing and facilitate trade, to see whether this can allow Italian companies to access the Chinese mainland market more easily.” Agriculture and healthcare also present opportunities: “Hainan’s tropical climate offers particularly favorable conditions for research and genetic selection,” while “we look with interest also at the pharmaceutical and bio-medicine sectors: the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone represents an attractive platform for the introduction of advanced medical resources and provides opportunities for the involvement of Italian pharmaceutical and biotech companies.”

Ambassador Ambrosetti and Consul General De Parolis pose for a group picture in Jiangdong New Area. Photo: courtesy of the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou.

Reflecting on his visit, Ambassador Ambrosetti also shared a personal impression: “I was truly struck by the island’s natural beauty and green environment, even in urban areas. I liked also Haikou’s historic district, the Qilou portico. I was impressed by an approach aimed at balancing economic development and environmental protection.” Qilou’s architecture in particular reminds Western visitors of European and especially Italian covered walkways. Looking ahead, he expressed “the hope that, in years to come, more Italian companies and professionals will seize the opportunities offered by the Free Trade Port, fostering mutually beneficial collaboration.”

Overall, the visit marked a meaningful step in strengthening ties between Italy and Hainan, highlighting both the opportunities and the continued dialogue needed to fully realize the potential of this emerging hub.