Abstract:

From the perspective of economic geography, the features, marine attributes, and offshore spatial characteristics of Hainan Island, as well as the special institutional arrangement of Hainan Free Trade Port, provide a new research perspective on the promotion of regional economic integration.Currently, the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port is in the key stage of building a new development pattern of domestic and international dual circulation.In its process of development, the free trade port is oriented to the ocean and to the world, contributing to a new economic geospatial pattern.Accordingly, a new concept of economic geography for Hainan and the South China Sea is put forth, and a new analytical framework is constructed, composed of spatial concept, spatial mechanism, and spatial behavior, to explore the path and prospects of the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port and promote the regional economic integration of Hainan and the South China Sea.The results indicate that the Hainan-South China Sea geospace is the spatial basis for the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port to promote regional economic integration.First, at the spatial concept level, the concept of marine community and the new development concept should be deeply implemented, and the cultural concept should be taken as the driving force to promote Hainan-South China Sea regional economic integration during port development.Second, at the spatial mechanism level, institutional innovation and marine governance of the Hainan Free Trade Port should be strengthened, and Hainan-South China Sea regional economic integration should be promoted with rules and systems as the driving force.At the spatial behavior level, a circular economy in Hainan-South China Sea should be built and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" should be consolidated with behavioral interests as the driving force to promote Hainan-South China Sea regional economic integration.Finally, regarding its contributions, in the face of international economic system transformation and trade protectionism, regional economic integration is crucial for China to build a world-class free trade port, integrate into economic globalization, and deeply participate in global economic governance.By putting forth the new economic and geographical concept of Hainan-South China Sea, and constructing a new analytical framework, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to grasp the internal logic, influence mechanisms, and practical path of development for Hainan Free Trade Port to promote the regional economic integration of Hainan-South China Sea.

Key words: Hainan-South China Sea, economic geography, Hainan Dao, free trade port, regional economic integration