On October 17, the 2026 Hengyang Students’ Networking Event, themed “Connected to Hengyang, Building Dreams in Beijing,” was held in Beijing. Organized by the Beijing Liaison Office of the Hengyang Municipal People’s Government and hosted by the Beijing Hengyang Chamber of Commerce, the event brought together former Hengyang officials, academicians, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs living in Beijing, along with representatives of more than 60 Hengyang students admitted to universities in Beijing this year. Participants shared their hometown ties and discussed the aspirations of young people.
At the opening, a representative of the municipal liaison office conveyed greetings from Zhu Jian, secretary of the CPC Hengyang Municipal Committee, along with eight messages of encouragement. Students were urged to understand the Party’s innovative theories through practice and strengthen their confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; plan their lives carefully; develop adaptability; embrace AI-assisted learning; learn from both books and real-life experience; make diligence a habit; maintain their health; and face challenges with courage, treating difficulties as opportunities for growth.
New students admitted to Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China and China Agricultural University shared their experiences of entering university and their academic plans, demonstrating the energy, ambition and determination of young people from Hengyang.
Zheng Yu, vice president of JD.com and a representative of outstanding previous graduates, and Kuang Wenmin, director of Xinyuan Qingcai and a council member of the Beijing Hengyang Chamber of Commerce, shared lessons from their studies, entrepreneurship and research careers. They encouraged students to pursue their goals with determination. Zhou Liming, president of the chamber, urged students to seize their educational opportunities, develop strong professional skills and serve as a bridge connecting Hengyang with Beijing.
Academician Teng Jiwen of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an alumnus of Hengyang Railway No. 1 Middle School, encouraged students to pursue rigorous study, seek truth through practical work, cultivate a strong sense of national responsibility and contribute to China’s development as a leading country in science and technology.
Former Hengyang officials attending the event also encouraged students to maintain firm ideals, work hard to serve the country, strengthen their knowledge and capabilities, and stay connected with their hometown. Yang Xingwen, deputy director of the Beijing office of the Hunan Provincial People’s Government and a member of its leading Party members group, shared three reflections: “The sea is vast enough for fish to leap, and the sky high enough for birds to fly”; “Even the brightest moon elsewhere cannot replace a single lamp in one’s hometown”; and “Where the heart finds peace, there is home.” He encouraged students to study diligently, care about the country and remain connected to their roots, adding that the provincial and municipal offices in Beijing would serve as a welcoming home away from home for Hengyang students.
The event concluded with a group photograph. It provided a platform for Hengyang students in Beijing to connect, strengthened their sense of community and encouraged them to pursue their dreams while remembering their hometown and contributing to its future development.
Translator: Jing