On January 21, 2026, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Yangpu Economic Development Zone Transport and Port Administration and Malta Freeport Corporation was signed in Beijing, just days after the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) marked one month since the launch of island-wide special customs operations on December 18, 2025.

The signing was witnessed by Ling Ji, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative, and Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta.

The MoU has been included in the outcome list of the 11th session of the Malta-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO), formally making Malta Freeport the 42nd partner of the Hainan FTP under the Global Free Trade Zones (Ports) Partnership Initiative.

On the same day, representatives of the Yangpu Economic Development Zone met with the Maltese delegation to discuss strengthening practical cooperation in areas such as port operations, shipping, and logistics.

Located at the strategic crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Malta is a key member of the European Union. Malta Freeport is one of the Mediterranean’s major transshipment hubs and plays a crucial role in global trade. During a visit to Malta in 2024, a delegation led by Bater, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Hainan Province, established initial links with Malta Freeport. The Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province actively leveraged its external liaison channels to facilitate the conclusion of this MoU.

Under the cooperation framework, Malta Freeport and Yangpu Port will establish a formal partnership, encouraging and coordinating relevant authorities to leverage their respective strengths in policy, location, and industrial foundations. The two sides will explore cross-border and cross-zone cooperation between industrial parks and enhance exchanges and mutual learning in areas related to institutional opening-up, including rules, regulations, management, and standards.

Since the launch of special customs operations, the Hainan FTP has achieved a smooth and stable start, with initial results steadily emerging. Policies have been fully implemented, operations at the “first line” have remained efficient and unobstructed, the “second line” has been running in an orderly manner, market vitality has been effectively stimulated, and overall risks are under sound control.

The signing of the MoU further expands Hainan’s circle of international partners, extending its global connectivity to a key Mediterranean hub. This new milestone, achieved at the first-month mark of special customs operations, will not only inject fresh momentum into cooperation in port services, shipping, logistics, and industrial coordination between the two sides but will also help advance the alignment of Hainan’s institutional opening-up practices with the EU’s high-standard market system.