A view of Xiuying Port in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province. Photo: VCG

"Hello, please translate this document into English." In an office space in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan Province, the clacking of keyboards mingled with the occasional conversation. The man moving between the workstations - the "boss" with a foreign face yet speaking fluent Chinese - was David Adrian Janke. Born in the UK, he came to China to study in 2007 and has since developed a lasting bond with the country.

Janke, a British national who runs a translation company in Haikou, told the Global Times that since settling in the Hainan Free Trade Port, he has planted the seeds of his dreams — building a life and career that exemplify how foreign expatriates can grow and thrive in China.

"The Chinese Ministry of Education provided me with a full scholarship, allowing me to complete my university studies smoothly," Janke recalled. At the age of 19, Janke enrolled at Nanjing University in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, majoring in Chinese language and literature. He says he fell deeply in love with China from that moment on. Over the next 17 years he moved between Nanjing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and other Chinese cities, finally settling in Hainan in 2020. "China is my second home," he said. 

David Janke visits Maona village in Wuzhishan, South China's Hainan Province, to experience the lifestyle and customs of the Li ethnic group in May 2022. Photo: Courtesy of David Janke

However, Janke admits that when he first moved to Hainan it was not because of the Hainan Free Trade Port. "I must confess, I didn't come to Hainan because of the free trade port. I wanted to find a place with beautiful natural scenery and a slower pace of life," he told the Global Times. Hainan's leisurely rhythm appealed to his desire to slow down, so he chose to become a Hainan "islander" and began a new chapter of life as a teacher in Hainan.

On April 13, 2018, China announced a decision to support Hainan in developing the whole island into a pilot free trade zone and gradually exploring and steadily promoting the establishment of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics.

The surge in Hainan Free Trade Port construction in 2018 showed him new possibilities. Encouraged by an American friend who had started a business in Hainan, and after learning how convenient it could be for foreigners to start a business there, Janke decided to give entrepreneurship a try. 

Since 2022, Janke has been actively involved in advancing international communications in Hainan and across China. In January 2022 he founded his translation company and soon moved it to Haikou. "I was surprised by how easy it was to set up a company in Hainan. Company registration took only one day. The next day I had the business license, and tax registration and other formalities were completed," he recalled. "Now I have a sense of belonging in Hainan because I have realized my dream here."

Conversely, what could he do for Hainan? This was something Janke had been thinking about.

In 2023 he took part in a survey on foreign-language signage for scenic viewing platforms along Hainan's ring road, helping to assign English names to those sites. At the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Provincial People's Government, he gave lectures to relevant departments about "how to promote the Hainan Free Trade Port in language that foreigners can understand."

In March 2024, Janke completed the Chinese-English translation and English compilation of A Guide to Hainan for Expats, greatly facilitating the work and daily life of expats in Hainan. He also participated in the translation work of the English version of 2024 Hainan Free Trade Port Investment Guide.

Since starting out alone, Janke's company has grown to include two full-time employees and a pool of freelance collaborators, enabling the team to take on substantial projects. "As I live in Hainan, my work can connect with the whole country and with the world," he told the Global Times. "China is my best choice." 

Janke also praised China's efforts to improve the business environment for foreigners. "China attaches great importance to improving the business environment. It is now easier for foreigners to obtain work and residence permits in China. That allows us to be entrepreneurs, not just employees," he said. 

In an increasingly turbulent world, Janke believes, the stability China provides is not just superficial but something people tangibly feel. He particularly values China's long-term planning and stability, noting that China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) has enabled faster exploration and development in fields such as new energy, deep-sea science and aerospace than in many other countries. 

"I have full confidence in China's cutting-edge industries. China is truly focused on the future and is constantly striving for it," Janke said. In the future, he hopes to help more expatriates integrate into the local community and contribute to the internationalization of the Hainan Free Trade Port. He aims to build bridges of trust through language, allowing more people around the world to hear the stories of Hainan and China.