On June 29, Nina Linde, President of the Latvian–Chinese Friendship Association, visited Hainan. On the same day, Jiang Xiongbiao, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province and Vice President of the Hainan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (HPAFFC), met with Linde and her delegation in Haikou. The two sides exchanged views on enhancing exchanges and cooperation between Hainan and Latvia.

Jiang welcomed Linde and her delegation, updating them on the latest developments in the island-wide special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) and on the work of the HPAFFC. He highlighted that Hainan and Latvia have complementary strengths and significant potential for cooperation. The HPAFFC is open to collaborating with the Latvian–Chinese Friendship Association to create cooperation frameworks, identify new opportunities, and foster partnerships in sectors such as trade and investment, air links, health and wellness tourism, and cultural exchanges.

He also invited Latvian representatives from various industries to participate in key events held in Hainan, including the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference and the China International Consumer Products Expo. Furthermore, Latvia’s free ports and industrial parks are encouraged to establish partnerships with similar facilities within the Hainan FTP through the Global Free Trade Zone (Port) Partnership Initiative.

Linde noted that China’s reform and opening-up have led to significant achievements, with the Hainan FTP growing swiftly. She hoped that ties between China and Latvia, as well as between Hainan and Latvia, would strengthen. This includes fostering partnerships between the Hainan FTP and Latvia’s free ports and industrial parks and encouraging more Latvian companies to invest and collaborate in Hainan.

Additionally, she stated that the association would use its magazine, China Times EU, to showcase China and promote Hainan to European audiences. She also supports establishing charter flights between the regions to promote mutual exchanges.

During their visit, Linde and her delegation toured the Exhibition on Hainan’s Deepening of Reform and Opening-up and the Development of Hainan FTP at the Hainan Chronicles Museum. They also visited the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone.  

Established in 2024, the Latvian–Chinese Friendship Association aims to foster economic and trade cooperation, culture, education, and science and technology between Latvia and China, while strengthening mutual understanding between the two peoples.