Hainan plans good news for free trade

Efforts showcase desire to strengthen globalization, defend multilateralism

The grand plan to build Hainan into an international free-trade zone will not only boost South China's development, but also catalyze economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world, said one of the nation's top experts in international trade.

The move is one of the nation's concrete steps to further facilitate global trade and investment, and concentrated efforts are needed to make this vision a reality, said Wei Jianguo, a former vice-minister of commerce.