A feature documentary on the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) produced by Malaysia's national news agency Bernama premiered in Kuala Lumpur on August 27, offering ASEAN businesses a detailed look at policy incentives and market access opportunities in southern China.

The 30-minute film, titled 2026: Towards the Hainan Free Trade Port, was commissioned by the Hainan International Media Center (HIMC) and filmed by a Bernama production team during a July 2026 visit to cities and counties across Hainan including Haikou, Qionghai, Wanning, Lingshui, Sanya and Danzhou. The documentary is currently being broadcast on Bernama's television channels and digital platforms.

Hainan's island-wide special customs operations, which took effect in late 2025, is the policy anchor of the feature documentary. Under the framework of “opening at the first line” and “efficient control at the second line,” goods entering Hainan from abroad enjoy zero or low tariffs, while goods moving from Hainan into the Chinese mainland are subject to standard import regulations. The "first line" refers to the boundary between Hainan and overseas markets. The "second line" is the customs boundary between Hainan and the Chinese mainland. A key provision allows manufactured goods to enter the mainland duty-free if they have undergone more than 30 percent value-added processing in Hainan, a rule the feature documentary highlights as a gateway advantage for ASEAN exporters.

Port connectivity between Hainan and Malaysia receives particular attention. The film examines the Yangpu Port, a core gateway of the free trade port, and its shipping links to Port Klang and Pasir Gudang in Malaysia. Multiple direct cargo routes are already operational, and two-way trade volumes continue to grow. ASEAN has been Hainan's largest trading partner for six consecutive years, with Hainan’s exports spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines.

The feature documentary breaks down specific industrial policies for potential investors. Encouraged-sector enterprises are subject to a 15 percent corporate income tax rate, while high-end and urgently needed talents pay individual income tax at a 15 percent rate. Production equipment and raw materials imported for manufacturing purposes are exempt from tariffs. On the industrial cooperation front, the film explores four sectors in detail. In digital trade, Hainan is piloting cross-border data flow regimes that could benefit ASEAN technology and service providers. In yachting, the Sanya International Yacht Center is exploring cross-border cruising routes with Malaysian coastal tourism destinations. In medical tourism, the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone is positioning its services to meet demand from Southeast Asia's high-end healthcare market. In international education, the province is expanding its intake of overseas educational resources and institutions.

Shang Lin (left), Publisher of Hainan Daily Press Group, and Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai jointly launch the feature documentary 2026: Towards the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Beyond economic policy, the feature documentary weaves in historical and cultural connections. The arcaded buildings of Qilou old street in Haikou retain the architectural character of the Nanyang (or Southeast Asian) style, reflecting the historical migration of Hainanese people to Southeast Asia. In the coffee industry, Xinglong coffee producers are using the free trade port's policies to import raw beans, process them in Hainan, and export finished products, taking advantage of the value-added tariff exemption.

At the premiere, Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said Hainan's growing role as a portal for trade, investment and regional cooperation creates significant opportunities for Malaysia and the broader ASEAN to deepen ties with China. Shang Lin, Publisher of the Hainan Daily Press Group, said the two organizations would expand collaboration in content production, media technology, youth exchange and regional communication.