Hainan should develop the new generation of information technology and digital economy and promote deep integration between the real economy and the internet, the internet of things, big data, satellite navigation and artificial intelligence, he said.

It is hoped that the province will not only become an innovative and strategic place for space science and technology, but will strengthen research of deep-sea science and technology and set up a demonstration zone for international offshore innovation and entrepreneurship, the president said.

In the tourism sector, the hope is for Hainan to establish more international flight routes and implement a more open and convenient duty-free shopping policy, he said, adding that China also aims to make the province home to the country's bases for tropical agricultural science and industry.

Hainan will be a pioneer in establishing a modern system for supervising ecological environment and resource conservation and will undertake the piloting of the national park system, building national parks that will include tropical rainforest, Xi said.

The country encourages key universities and research institutes at home and abroad to set up branches in Hainan, and encourages Hainan to introduce high-quality education resources from abroad, he added.

In addition, China supports Hainan's piloting of reforms for managing international talent, and international students who have obtained master's degree at Chinese universities will be allowed to work or start businesses in Hainan, Xi said.

Zhou Jin contributed to this story.