“A tree may grow a thousand feet tall, but it will never forget its roots; a river may flow ten thousand miles, but it will always remember its source.” On February 20, the fourth day of the first lunar month, Huaihua, a blessed land, was filled with warmth. At the venue for the New Year Symposium on the Return of Hunan Entrepreneurs, Huaihua Entrepreneurs and Alumni, red lanterns were hung high, and paper with the character fu (blessings) was mounted. Entrepreneurs and alumni representatives from all over the country gathered. They discussed cooperation in dialect, filled with the joy of returning home and the ambition to jointly plan for development.
Nie Huajun, a native of Huaihua and founder of Shenzhen Locator Vision Technology Co., Ltd., has specialized in the visual effects of domestic blockbusters for over a decade. His team has participated in the making of high-difficulty shots in The Battle at Lake Changjin, the Ne Zha film series, among other films. “Cultural roots are the true source of creativity,” said Nie Huajun excitedly. In 2025, he participated in events such as the Huaihua Social Science Popularization Week and Hunan Tourism Development Conference, during which he deeply felt the vibrant vitality of the cultural tourism industry in his hometown. He stated that Huaihua’s development plan for “port, industry, city, and tourism” in 2026 aligns perfectly with the company’s priorities. He will continue to act as a “digital partner” for Huaihua and leverage AI technology and digital creativity to tell Huaihua’s stories well and spread Huaihua culture.
“We plan to deeply integrate mature technological advances such as new touch display technology and the assembly of complete home smart devices with the industrial needs of Huaihua,” said Guo Jian, Chairman of Anhui Jingzhuo Optical Display Technology Co., Ltd., who hailed from Huaihua. He mentioned the robot performances at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala and shared his insights into how to make technological innovation in keeping with the development of the times. The company has established partnerships with well-known enterprises such as Huawei and Xiaomi, with a cumulative output value of over RMB20 billion. Guo Jian stated that Huaihua’s unique geographical advantages and sound industrial foundation boost his confidence. He plans to build an industrial base in Huaihua that integrates R&D, production, and training, to cultivate professional talents for his hometown and promote the extension and upgrading of the industrial chain.
A favorable environment is a magnet for enterprises and entrepreneurs. Huaihua’s rapid development, pragmatic and efficient services, and open and inclusive environment boost the confidence of entrepreneurs to invest and start business there. In 2025, the city’s major economic indicators all grew faster than the national and provincial averages, with GDP increasing by 5.7%, fixed asset investment by 3.6%, and per capita disposable income of all residents by 6.5%, ranking first in Hunan Province. Meanwhile, the city has consistently been recognized as one of the most attractive cities for investment. It has ranked first in the province for many consecutive years in terms of public satisfaction with security, services, and ecological environment.
“Today, we will officially sign an agreement for our black bear ecological breeding and bear gall powder freeze-drying processing project!” The speech by Zhu Fanfan, President of Zhongrun Huanyu Holdings Group Co., Ltd., brought the symposium to a climax. Hailing from Chenxi, Zhu Fanfan mentioned three “unexpected” moves of Huaihua to express her genuine feelings about investing in her hometown: She didn’t expect the CPC Huaihua Municipal Committee and the People’s Government of Huaihua City to attach highest attention to the returning entrepreneurs; she didn’t expect the business environment to be so supportive; and she didn’t expect the strategic direction of the company and her hometown to be so perfectly aligned. She solemnly announced that the company will develop the project into a southern headquarters base for the group’s TCM and health businesses. The company will also channel resources in commercial real estate, outlet malls, and other fields to Huaihua, to achieve comprehensive and deep collaboration.
The fellow entrepreneurs built consensus on development and demonstrated their commitment to their hometown. This symposium represents not only hometown bonds but also pooled strength. At the signing ceremony following the symposium, 15 key investment promotion projects were signed, with a total investment of RMB5,605 million. These projects closely align with the city’s “5+10” modern industrial system, including key node projects for extending and supplementing industrial chains as well as core engine projects for strengthening and expanding industrial chains. They fully demonstrate the fruitful results of the initiative of the “Return of Hunan Entrepreneurs, Huaihua Entrepreneurs, and Alumni”.
（Translated by Professor Yu Jie）