On February 28, entrepreneurs took the center stage in Huaihua. The conference on promoting the development and expansion of the private economy and advancing the "Enterprise Service Year" campaign was convened.
As the first citywide meeting after the Spring Festival, this conference is not only a deployment meeting to rally morale and pool strengths, but also a mobilization to anchor goals and press ahead with greater efforts.
By holding a special meeting to pay tribute to entrepreneurs and support the private economy, the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal People's Government have fully demonstrated Huaihua's firm determination to get off to a flying start in the new year and go all out to boost the economy. It also sends a clear message that the government will always stand with enterprises, think alongside them and work hand in hand with them.
Reporters noted that in 2024, Huaihua's "First Spring Conference" focused on investment promotion and industrial development, striving to inject fresh impetus into growth.
In 2025, the city centered on project construction to consolidate the foundation for development.
This year, the focus has been precisely set on the "private economy" to effectively invigorate the internal driving forces of development.
From the "Year of Investment Promotion" to the "Year of Project Construction" and now to the "Year of Enterprise Service", Huaihua has followed a clear and coherent development path. It aims not only to attract incremental growth but also to unlock the potential of existing drivers, pursuing progress through both internal and external efforts to make the foundation of economic development more solid and resilient.
This strategic vision is most tangibly reflected at the conference venue. The seating arrangement carries a special implication and embodies the city's sincerity.
Entrepreneurs were seated in the front rows of the central area. Leading officials of relevant municipal departments and principal leaders of counties and county-level cities sat on either side or in the middle and rear sections. This arrangement not only underlines the status of the private economy in Huaihua's economic and social development, but also conveys the earnest hope of encouraging private entrepreneurs to strive for new achievements in the new year.
"Over the past 30 years and more, the development of Zhengqing Group has been inseparable from the nurturing of this promising land, and more importantly, from the first-class business environment fostered over the long term by the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal People's Government." These remarks by Wu Feichi, chairman of Hunan Zhengqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., speak to the aspirations of numerous private entrepreneurs rooted in Huaihua.
In fact, Huaihua's emphasis on private entrepreneurs and care for the private economy have never been a one-off move, but a consistent and long-term commitment.
Even during the Spring Festival holiday, Huaihua held a symposium for Hunan merchants, Huaihua merchants and alumni returning home. This heartwarming practice has been upheld for many consecutive years.
Municipal Party Secretary Xu Zhongjian delivered three sincere and heartfelt messages: affection for hometown is our most sincere sentiment; a prosperous hometown is our most cherished wish; people of hometown are our most valued strength.
This is not only a warm call to those living and working away from home, but also a solemn commitment to all private entrepreneurs: Huaihua will always be a strong backing for entrepreneurs and a fertile land for starting and growing businesses.
If state-owned enterprises are the mainstay of the national economy, the private economy is the barometer of market vitality, the reservoir of employment and the powerhouse of innovation.
In Huaihua, the private economy is no longer a supporting role, but a pillar that accounts for half of the city's development. The added value of the private sector reached 149.242 billion yuan, accounting for 68.1% of the city's GDP. There are 418,600 private economic entities, including 84,700 private enterprises. Private enterprises make up 92.6% of enterprises above designated size.
Behind these figures lies the vigorous growth of tens of thousands of market entities and a solid foundation for Huaihua's high-quality development.
Mou Xiaofeng, chairman of Hunan Xiangtong Industrial Co., Ltd., used a set of figures to illustrate this vitality: the company has invested a total of 1.5 billion yuan, built 18 production lines, manufactured more than 600,000 cases and bags per month, and attracted over 140 upstream and downstream enterprises to settle in Huaihua. In 2025, the entire industrial chain achieved an output value of 2.5 billion yuan, with products exported to more than 30 countries and regions
One enterprise drives an industrial chain, and one industrial chain energizes a city. This is a vivid illustration of the "chain reaction" of the private economy.
Against the backdrop of nationwide emphasis on the private economy and proactive policies introduced by various regions, how can Huaihua better serve private enterprises?
Relevant support has long been underway.
Huaihua designated May 5 as "Entrepreneurs' Day", issued entrepreneur green cards, and rolled out policies including 10 measures to support the high-quality development of private enterprises and 12 measures to further improve the business environment.
In 2025, more than 150,000 matters were handled under the "Efficient Completion" initiative. The satisfaction rate for matters reflected through the "12345" Mayor's Hotline reached 100%. The brand of "Handling Affairs with Ease in Huaihua" has been further enhanced.
At this conference, the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal People's Government decided to officially designate 2026 as the "Year of Enterprise Service" and fully deploy related activities. This means Huaihua will provide all-round, full-cycle and full-chain services to support the development of private enterprises.
At the conference, private entrepreneurs and representatives of chambers of commerce took an active part in the discussion, voicing their aspirations, talking about development plans and expressing expectations for the future.
Qian Zhirong, chairman of Hunan Litong Hengyu Cable Technology Co., Ltd., stated that the company will continue to uphold the original aspiration of engaging in the real economy. It will keep pace with the market, strengthen innovation to gain a firm foothold in fierce market competition, and strive to create more high-quality jobs.
Li Xiaohong, chairman of Hunan Jiahui Department Store Co., Ltd., said the company will actively expand imports of ASEAN products and exports of Huaihua-made goods. Meanwhile, it will leverage its store network covering Hunan, Guizhou, Chongqing and Guangxi.
Su Wenjie, president of the Beijing Huaihua Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, expressed the hope that the government will provide more policy tools for the private economy, continuously improve services, and connect upstream and downstream industrial chains, so that people from hometown who work outside and wish to invest back home can have greater confidence.
The firm statements made by entrepreneurs represent both trust and expectation. At a time when regions across the country are competing to support the private economy and roll out supportive policies, what does Huaihua rely on to retain, strengthen and empower enterprises? The answer lies in the four dimensions of the "Year of Enterprise Service".
First, enhance entrepreneurs' sense of belonging.
From holding the Huaihua Entrepreneurs' Day and inviting entrepreneurs to participate in policy formulation to planning the "New Huaihua Contribution Award", Huaihua has taken concrete actions to make respecting merchants and valuing enterprises a distinctive feature of the city.
Second, ensure services cover the entire development cycle.
Centering on the whole life cycle of enterprises, from market access and factor support to exit assistance, Huaihua has built a seamlessly connected service chain.
From the land supply model of "getting land upon signing and starting construction upon land acquisition", to cross-border facilitation such as "railway fast clearance" and "instant clearance", to job delivery through the "Spring Action" campaign... Every step fulfills the commitment of "understanding appeals, clarifying needs and properly handling requests". There is only one ultimate goal: to enable all types of enterprises in Huaihua to "get things done, hire employees, make profits and be fully respected".
Third, boost efficiency through industrial chains.
Competition in the modern economy is no longer among individual enterprises, but among industrial chains and ecosystems.
By having chain leaders go to the frontline every month, promoting two-way exchanges and transformation between enterprises and schools, and holding monthly meetings on production, supply and marketing, Huaihua is working to remove bottlenecks in innovation and supply chains, extend, supplement and strengthen industrial chains, and upgrade industries toward the medium-high end of the value chain.
Fourth, ensure all-round protection of rights and interests.
What entrepreneurs fear most is not fierce market competition, but policy uncertainty, non-standard law enforcement and inadequate protection of rights and interests.
From the closed-loop appeal handling system of "Supervision via Code, Prompt Action" to the standardized law enforcement of "No Inspections Outside the List"; from clearing up arrears to one-stop legal services, Huaihua focuses on the urgent difficulties and worries of enterprises, making the rule of law the best business environment and enabling entrepreneurs to operate and develop.
As the Year of the Horse gets off to a promising start, spring breeze blows vigorously.
With entrepreneurs taking the center stage, services becoming the norm and the rule of law safeguarding development, Huaihua, with the utmost sincerity and sense of responsibility, is easing constraints, boosting morale, empowering and supporting the private economy.
It is believed that this joint effort between the government and enterprises will surely surge into a powerful tide of high-quality development, enabling Huaihua to forge ahead steadily and scale new heights on the new journey during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
(Translated by Yang Hong)