Mursyid Sonsang Witnesses Hainan Free Trade Port, a Golden Opportunity for Jambi Exports

Mursyid Sonsang, a guiding figure at the central board of the Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI), listened first-hand to a presentation from Cosco Shipping Lines on the strategic role of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in strengthening trade connectivity in the South China Sea region.

The briefing was delivered at a meeting with the management of Cosco Shipping Lines in Haikou, Hainan Province, China, recently.

Mursyid Sonsang, who is also former chairman of the Alliance of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) for Jambi Province and former chairman of the IKAL Lemhannas RI Jambi chapter, attended to take a closer look at how China is building a new logistics axis projected to become the main link for goods flows between South-East Asia, East Asia and the Indian Ocean.

In its presentation, the Cosco Shipping Lines team displayed a map of shipping routes and logistics centres integrated with the Hainan FTP. A large screen showed key port points along the South China Sea, including connections to South-East Asia and other regions.

Hainan FTP itself is a Chinese national project designed as a free trade port with more open customs, taxation and investment policies. The zone is positioned as a maritime and digital hub to serve global supply chains.

“This explanation from Cosco is very important for us to understand. Hainan can no longer be seen merely as a tourist destination; it has transformed into a logistics and trade centre that will influence the region’s economic map, including Indonesia’s,” said Mursyid Sonsang.

The husband of Dr Asnelly Ridha Daulay added that Hainan’s geographical position adjacent to the South China Sea gives it high strategic value. With world-class port infrastructure and policy incentives from the Chinese government, the Hainan FTP is expected to cut transit times and logistics costs for export and import commodities.

As a highly respected figure in the world of journalism and national affairs, Mursyid believes this information needs to be disseminated quickly to the public, particularly to business actors and policymakers in the regions.

“Indonesia, including Jambi Province, has great potential to connect with this route. Commodities such as CPO, rubber, coal and our SME products could find new opportunities through the connectivity being built by Cosco and the Hainan FTP,” he explained.

According to him, understanding geopolitical and geo-economic shifts in the South China Sea is important so that Indonesia is not merely a market but also a player in the global supply chain. The role of the media, he said, is to bridge that information so it reaches the regions.

“JMSI, as an organisation of cyber media companies, has a responsibility to monitor and educate the public on strategic issues like this. We must adapt quickly so we are not left behind,” he stressed.

Background

Hainan in China has entered a new chapter as a global economic centre through its ambitious Free Trade Port (FTP) initiative. Since the full operational system came into force at the end of 2025, Hainan has transformed into a vital gateway connecting the Chinese market with the international world.

Amid this major transformation, the role of logistics giants such as Cosco Shipping Lines has become crucial. Through maritime infrastructure development and the opening of new shipping routes, Cosco has become the main driver of regional economic integration based at Yangpu Port.

A delegation from the Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI), currently in Hainan at the invitation of the All China Journalists Association (ACJA), visited Yangpu Port on Thursday, 16 July 2026.

“Hainan plays a key role in international trade connectivity in the South China Sea region,” said JMSI Chairman Dr Teguh Santosa during the visit to the operational facilities and logistics ecosystem managed by Cosco Shipping Lines in Hainan.

Yangpu Port is now positioned as the main pillar of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. As part of the Belt and Road initiative, the port has recorded impressive growth in cargo and container volumes, proving its appeal as an efficient logistics hub in the Asia-Pacific.

Cosco Shipping Lines does not merely provide transport services; it is also building an integrated supply chain ecosystem. By connecting Hainan directly to various South-East Asian countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, the company has shortened waiting times and improved the efficiency of goods flows.

The route services operated by Cosco facilitate more fluid intra-Asian trade. This allows products from various countries to enter the Chinese market at more competitive costs through the infrastructure provided in Hainan.

The presence of the “relaxed at the border, strict within the country” customs system in Hainan gives business actors a competitive edge. Goods processed in the region enjoy tariff incentives, which are then supported by Cosco’s logistics fleet for distribution across mainland China.

For Indonesia, the development of the Hainan FTP brings strategic economic cooperation opportunities. The geographical proximity between the two regions provides a strong foundation for deepening mutually beneficial supply chain partnerships.

Indonesia’s flagship products, such as coffee, spices, seafood and tropical fruit, now have more open market access to Hainan. The zero per cent tariff policy for many categories of goods benefits Indonesian exporters seeking to make Hainan their main distribution hub.

This synergy is further strengthened by the role of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce in Hainan (ICCI), which acts as a bridge for business actors. The ICCI actively promotes cooperation across various sectors, from commodity trade to digital technology innovation.

Indonesian businesspeople can also use Hainan as a place to adapt to high-standard international trade rules. With Hainan’s advanced digital economic infrastructure, Indonesian local companies have the opportunity to expand their business scale through cross-border e-commerce platforms.

Cosco Shipping Lines, with a global network covering more than 1,500 ports, acts as a catalyst in realising this vision. The company’s investment in logistics services and shipping routes continues to support the realisation of Hainan as a dynamic “new Hong Kong”.

Hainan’s transformation into an international hub is not merely an infrastructure project, but a statement of China’s openness to the world. Through cross-border collaboration, Hainan now stands as a meeting point of economic interests connecting producers in South-East Asia with consumers in China.

Overall, the role of Cosco Shipping Lines, together with Hainan’s FTP status, creates a new chapter for Asian trade dynamics. For Indonesia, this is a golden opportunity to deepen integration into global value chains and strengthen its bargaining position in international trade.