Winds rise over the Xiangjiang River; wild geese will return to Hengyang.

As Hunan entrepreneurs from the four seas set foot upon the land of Hengzhou — Hengyang’s ancient name — a two-way embrace between their native soil and the times begins to unfold. The 12th Global Forum for Hunan Entrepreneurs is being held in Hengyang. It is an opportunity bestowed by the times, and still more a heartfelt invitation extended to Hunan entrepreneurs across the world by this national regional key city and provincial sub-center city of Hunan.

The confidence of a city lies hidden in a millennia-old cultural lineage and reveals itself in the grandeur of its mountains and rivers. This culturally deep-rooted land of Hengyang has never been absent from the advance of human civilization.

One sheet of paper: Cai Lun's papermaking revolutionized the writing medium of human civilization.

Two mountains: Mount Heng (Nanyue), a natural summit whose seventy-two peaks take in all the grace of Xiaoxiang; and Wang Chuanshan, a cultural summit who raised a towering peak of Eastern thought, sowing the spiritual spark of the maxim “It is my charge to open a new vista for the Six Classics,” and blessing countless generations since.

Three rivers converging: The Xiangjiang, Leishui and Zhengshui rivers rush together in the urban area, forming the distinctive geographical feature and ecological advantage known as “three water gates locking the great river.”

Four kinds of luminaries: Hengyang has produced talents in every generation — political figures represented by Luo Ronghuan; cultural elites represented by Zhou Dunyi and Zeng Xi; scientific masters represented by Fang Zhiyuan and Liu Daxiang, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering; and industrial leaders represented by outstanding entrepreneurs such as Zhou Chaonan and Zhou Nanfang.

Five signature cards: “Capital of Nonferrous Metals,” “Major Industrial Town,” “Hub City,” “City of Science and Education,” and “City of Heroes” — these five distinctive labels are the rich legacy that history has deposited for Hengyang, fully displaying the city's millennia-old character and its endowments for the new era.

Tempered by the years, Hengyang is undergoing a “splendid transformation.” It advanced steadily through the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), and the blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030) is now in place. Anchored to the development strategy of “building the city on manufacturing and energizing it through culture and tourism,” Hengyang has mapped out a modern industrial system with distinct Hengyang characteristics following the framework of “stabilizing five, advancing three and positioning two” — consolidating five traditional strengths, growing three emerging industries and positioning two future industries. The city is striving to become a growth pole for the province’s high-quality development, a bridgehead for integrating with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and a powerful engine driving development across southern Hunan. It will better leverage its role as a transport hub and accelerate the building of six regional centers — for the economy, science and technology, consumption, education, healthcare and emergency response.

In Hengyang today, traditional industries are like old trees putting forth fresh branches; emerging industries are clustering into momentum; and future industries are being positioned with foresight to seize the commanding heights. The city’s strides toward becoming a national regional key city and a provincial sub-center city are firm and resounding.

Deep is the love for one’s native soil, and nowhere is it truer than in the heart of a Hunan entrepreneur. Returning Hunan entrepreneurs bring a living flow of capital; returning alumni bring a wellspring of talent; and Hunan expertise empowering Hunan injects the momentum of innovation. Batch after batch of major projects have taken root, one specialized industrial park after another has risen with force, and set after set of figures bears witness to the fruits of development. Hunan entrepreneurs have become a key pillar of Hengyang’s high-quality development.

Hengyang has always treated entrepreneurs as partners walking side by side in a shared cause, honoring the “Four Commitments” spirit: “We do not come unless summoned, we come whenever summoned, we serve with care, and we do what we say.” Policies benefiting enterprises are delivered with precision, services to assist enterprises land with warmth, and the business environment is fair and transparent — giving investment a stage, entrepreneurship fertile soil, and development solid safeguards.

From ancient times to the present, wild geese have chosen Hengyang as their roosting place; in this prosperous age, Hunan entrepreneurs ride the wind home. “Wild geese reaching Hengyang fly no further south; travelers arriving in Hengyang never wish to leave.” The wild goose keeps faith with the seasons; the Hunan entrepreneur keeps faith with the native soil. Today’s Hengyang offers the locational advantage of reaching rivers and seas, the industrial support of complete chains and clusters, and above all the surging enthusiasm of officials and residents united in pursuit of enterprise.

The grand gathering opens, and a momentous convergence begins. We look to Hunan entrepreneurs everywhere to strive to be the “leading geese” of the return home — bringing capital back to their hometown, bringing projects back to Hengyang, and bringing industries home. Standing with Hengyang in the same heart and the same direction, let us jointly build a highland of development, jointly open a new chapter of our era, and jointly write a brand-new answer sheet.

We wish the 12th Global Forum for Hunan Entrepreneurs complete success!