On May 22, Maree Ringland, the newly appointed Australian Consul General in Guangzhou, paid a courtesy visit to the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province (Hainan FAO). Director-General of the Hainan FAO, Dai Zhen, held discussions with Ringland and her delegation, during which they exchanged ideas on enhancing exchanges and cooperation between Hainan and Australia in various areas.

Dai Zhen first welcomed Ringland and her delegation to Hainan. She highlighted that Hainan places great importance on its relations with Australia, noting existing cooperation in trade, healthcare, connectivity, and cultural exchanges, as well as long-standing historical ties. She emphasized that the relationship between Hainan and Australia is backed by solid public support and boasts significant opportunities for economic and trade growth for both sides.

Dai then offered a comprehensive overview of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP)'s development since the launch of special customs operations. She highlighted the FTP’s key policy advantages, including zero tariffs, low tax rates, streamlined trade and investment procedures, and cross-border data flows, as well as efforts to modernize the province’s industrial system.

On the basis of the key consensus reached by leaders of both countries and utilizing platforms including the Boao Forum for Asia, the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the China (Hainan) International Tropical Agricultural Products Winter Trade Fair, Dai stated that the Hainan FAO stands ready to collaborate with the Australian Consulate General in Guangzhou. Hainan aims to enhance practical cooperation with Australia in areas such as culture, trade, agriculture, green and low-carbon development, high-end consumption, education, youth exchanges, healthcare, and tourism.

Dai also hoped that the consulate general would proactively promote Hainan FTP’s favorable industrial policies to Australian companies and arrange business delegations to visit Hainan for site tours, cooperation matchmaking, and exploring business opportunities. 

Ringland highlighted that the green economy, tourism, and education are major areas of focus for Australia-China cooperation. She noted the promising progress in the Hainan FTP’s development and expressed confidence that the FTP will open new opportunities for Australian businesses to grow and develop in China.

After learning in detail about the FTP’s preferential policies and foreign investment landscape, Ringland noted that the Australian Consulate General in Guangzhou is willing to act as a facilitator. They will help introduce and clarify FTP’s policies on taxation, industries, investment, healthcare, and education for Australian companies when appropriate. This support offers Australian businesses new opportunities to expand their investments in China and benefit from FTP-driven growth. 

This visit marked Ringland’s first trip to Hainan since assuming office as the Australian Consul General in Guangzhou in March. During their stay, she and her delegation also visited Haikou, Wenchang, and Boao in Hainan.