2023 China Hainan Night, a special event designed to explore opportunities for future cooperation between China's Hainan province and the U.S. state of Hawaii, was held in Honolulu on Friday.

While attending the event, Vice Governor of Hainan Chen Huaiyu said that Hainan is constructing a world-class free trade port, which not only shows the remarkable achievements of China's reform and opening-up, but also provides immense market potential and development opportunities for enterprises worldwide, including those from Hawaii.

Chen said he hopes that Hainan and Hawaii, which established a sister relationship in 1992, could further strengthen cooperation on international tourism marketing, and enhance the development of tourism markets for both sides.

"As Hawaii excels in the development of international tourism products, we are exceedingly pleased to share the opportunity for collaboration within this rapidly expanding market," he said.

Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii Sylvia Luke, who also attended the event, said Hainan and Hawaii, which bear remarkable similarities, have an incredible opportunity to embark on a new chapter of collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchanges.

The bilateral friendship lasting 31 years has laid the foundation for meaningful cooperation in the future, particularly in such fields as smart tourism, infrastructure construction and green energy, she said.

Meanwhile, Shi Yuanqiang, deputy Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, encouraged the two sides to promote China-U.S. win-win cooperation by utilizing Hainan's development opportunities, especially through its free trade port, which has helped liberalize and facilitate trade and investment.

"With the recovery of the global economy and the resumption of personnel exchanges after the pandemic, the potential and prospects of friendly cooperation between Hainan and Hawaii are bound for a bright future," Shi said.