Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged the southern island province of Hainan to make the Hainan Free Trade Port an important gateway driving China's opening up in the new era, and strive to write its own chapter of Chinese modernization.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks after hearing a work report from the CPC Hainan provincial committee and the provincial government in the coastal city of Sanya.
He recognized the achievements Hainan Province has made in various areas, and set clear requirements for the province's work in the future.
Xi stressed that the province should step up efforts to leverage its unique conditions and advantages to build a modernized industrial system.
The province should promote deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, actively align with the country's strength in strategic science and technology, enhance international cooperation in science and technology, establish a more open talents recruitment mechanism, and build a multi-level sci-tech innovation system, he said.
The province should prioritize ecological conservation, adhere to green development, advance the integrated development of culture, sports, tourism and health industries, and foster openness and cooperation in tourism sector, Xi said.
He called for efforts to develop new types of consumption, promote consumption upgrading and transformation.
He also urged Hainan to enhance coordinated land and maritime development and build a solid marine economy province.
Xi said the province needs to make steady headway in reforms of key areas, with a focus on the comprehensive implementation of the policy and institutional systems for the Hainan free trade port (FTP).
He required efforts to achieve free and convenient trade, investment, cross-border capital flows, personnel movement, and transportation, as well as orderly and secure data flows.
It is significant to align with high-level international economic and trade rules, vigorously advance institutional opening-up, and create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, Xi said.
He called for continuous efforts to enhance public civility, and noted that it's important to protect, utilize, and pass on historical, revolutionary, marine and folk cultural resources, to foster cultural innovation and expand the cultural industry.
He stressed the need to ensure public wellbeing and strengthen social governance.
The province should improve its urban and rural public service systems and social security system, and address pressing issues of public concern, Xi said, adding that it is necessary to enhance support for employment and business start-ups among key groups to maintain overall employment stability.
Xi urges Hainan to write its own chapter of Chinese modernization
Xi urges Hainan to write its own chapter of Chinese modernization
China is accelerating efforts to build low-altitude infrastructure, with new takeoff and landing facilities, communication networks, and digital systems being constructed in key cities to facilitate the development of this rapidly growing sector.
Low-altitude economy refers to the economic activities and industries centered around manned and unmanned aerial vehicles operating in the airspace usually within 1,000 meters above the ground.
In southern tech hub of Shenzhen, a newly operational rooftop helipad is a key part of the city's push to expand its low-altitude economy. Originally built for fire safety, the helipad has been repurposed with plans for a new aerial sightseeing route in the surrounding area.
"We've estimated the investment, and it's relatively modest since the foundational infrastructure is already in place. The costs will likely be in the range of a few million yuan. If rooftop helipads are connected, it could create an aerial transportation network that links different buildings together," said Kuang Hu, vice chairman of Guangdong Yuehai Land Group.
Shenzhen aims to complete over 1,200 low-altitude facilities by 2026, with the local government offering subsidies of up to 2 million yuan (over 270,000 U.S. dollars) per project. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to create a seamless low-altitude infrastructure ecosystem that integrates airspace management, flight paths, and services.
"By the end of 2026, the district aims to complete 100 low-altitude infrastructure projects," said Chen Wenlei, deputy director of the Development and Reform Bureau of Luohu District, Shenzhen.
"We are in the process of establishing a comprehensive network that includes infrastructure, airspace management, flight paths, and services. By integrating these four key networks into a unified low-altitude standard system, we aim to promote the seamless opening and integration of low-altitude airspace infrastructure and systems," said Cheng Tao, executive secretary of the Shenzhen Low-altitude Economy Industry Association.
In Shanghai, the East China UAV Base has been approved for testing new drones, technologies, and services within a 1,370-square-kilometer airspace. A newly deployed 5G base station at the base offers both communication and radar-like sensing capabilities, essential for managing low-altitude airspace.
"Currently, the station covers a radius of several kilometers, offering crucial data such as the aircraft's latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, and other key metrics. Once airborne, all types of aircraft require communication. For those flying below 300 meters, we can provide tailored coverage for their flight paths," said Du Yanyan, deputy general manager of the Planning and Technology Department at China Mobile Shanghai.
Experts say that technologies like 5G and the BeiDou navigation system are essential to supporting China's low-altitude infrastructure. However, they emphasize the need for network interoperability to address challenges as drones and aircraft transition between regions.
"The low-altitude communication and sensing networks being developed in various regions each follow different technical approaches. For example, when a drone travels from Area A to Area B, it must switch networks, and addressing these challenges promptly is crucial," said Du Jiadong, head of the network and application group at the Low-altitude Economy Research Center, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).
The Civil Aviation Administration of China estimates that the country's low-altitude market will soar from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025 and as much as 3.5 trillion yuan in 2035.
This year, for the first time, the term "low-altitude economy" was included in the Chinese government's work report, signifying an official endorsement that has emboldened numerous cities.
Infrastructure networks rapidly taking shape to boost low-altitude economy
