On September 23, the 12th Global Forum for Hunan Entrepreneurs opened in Hengyang City. Hunan entrepreneur representatives, academicians and experts, and delegates from chambers of commerce and businesses from around the world gathered in the “Wild Goose City” to reconnect over hometown ties, discuss cooperation and chart development.

Shen Xiaoming, Secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, attended the opening ceremony and presented plaques to representatives of signature projects under the 2024–2025 “Welcome Fellow Townspeople Home, Return to Hometown, Build Up Hometown” initiative. Mao Weiming, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and Governor of Hunan Province, and Wang Hongyan, member of the Leading Party Members' Group and vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), delivered speeches.

Before the opening ceremony, Shen and Mao met with a number of guest delegates attending the forum.

During the meeting, Shen, on behalf of the provincial Party committee and provincial government, welcomed the guests and thanked them for their long-standing care and support for Hunan's development. He noted that Hunan entrepreneurs worldwide now number more than 4 million, spread across over 180 countries and regions, making theirs one of China’s ten major business communities. Since the provincial Party committee and provincial government launched the initiative to encourage Hunan entrepreneurs to return home, they have made important contributions to the province's economic and social development.

“Practice has fully shown that Hunan entrepreneurs are a valuable asset for Hunan’s development and an irreplaceable, important force driving the province’s high-quality development,” he said. He expressed the hope that Hunan entrepreneurs will actively participate in the province’s development and offer valuable opinions and suggestions on the work of encouraging their return. Hunan will continue to create better conditions for entrepreneurs to develop in the province and work with everyone to build a strong Hunan — living up to General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest expectations for Hunan and to the support and affection that Hunan entrepreneurs have shown their home province.

“Wild geese fly a thousand mountains yet always return to the nest; Hunan traders roam the four seas yet always think of Hunan.” In his speech, Mao called on all present to thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important statements on the development of the private economy, to carry forward the legendary story of Hunan entrepreneurs and open a new chapter of cooperation.

He said that in recent years, Hunan entrepreneurs — driven by the enthusiasm to invest and build businesses, the passion to innovate, the hometown sentiment to build bridges, and the deep affection to give back to their native place — have returned to develop Hunan in a surging tide. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), returning Hunan entrepreneurs registered 6,510 new enterprises in the province, with total investment exceeding 1 trillion yuan.

Standing at a new starting point, and buoyed by the compounding empowerment of national strategies, the surging momentum of science-industry integration, the strong potential of domestic and international connectivity, and the supporting effectiveness of both “hard” infrastructure and “soft” environment, investing in Sanxiang — Hunan — is perfectly timed. He sincerely invited all to become participants in investing in Hunan, pioneers in innovating Hunan, bridge-builders for an open Hunan, and ambassadors for a striving Hunan, joining hands with the province for shared development and mutual benefit. The provincial Party committee and provincial government will, with first-class services, “welcome businesses,” “support businesses” and “reassure businesses,” creating the best possible conditions for their return and growth in Hunan.

Wang Hongyan pointed out that this forum is being held in the crucial year marking the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), and is of great significance for pooling the strength of Hunan entrepreneurs worldwide and supporting Hunan's high-quality development. Hunan entrepreneurs should bear in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping’s earnest entrustment, carry forward their fine traditions, and bravely shoulder important responsibilities in advancing Chinese modernization.

Specifically, she urged them to stand high and see far, maintain resolve, and strengthen confidence by grasping the overarching trends; to dare to be pioneers, pursue strength through innovation, and take the lead in developing new quality productive forces; to build internal strength, operate in compliance with the law, and go far steadily by improving corporate governance; and to balance principle with profit, keep their hometown in their hearts, and demonstrate responsibility through giving back to society.

The ACFIC, she said, will give full play to its role as a bridge, bond and assistant, build a “home for private-sector figures,” and as always care for the growth of Hunan entrepreneurs and serve their development — pooling stronger private-sector strength for Hunan to realize the beautiful blueprint of the “Three Highlands and Four New Missions” strategy.

Provincial leaders Sui Zhongcheng, Wang Daoxi, Wang Junshou, Wu Guiying and Zhang Jian attended the event, and five entrepreneur representatives spoke at the exchange session.