Following the Lunar New Year holiday, over ten provinces and municipalities including Hubei, Guangdong, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, Hebei, Henan, Hunan, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi, and Chongqing simultaneously convened their first major meetings of the year. Beyond the formal agendas, subtle details in seating arrangements, keynote speakers, and technological displays revealed deeper strategic priorities.

In Nanjing’s opening conference, eight corporate leaders were seated at the center of the main stage alongside the city’s Party secretary and mayor—a departure from traditional protocol. Among them were Ye Wei, China head of Valeo Powertrain; Zhu Yuping, deputy general manager of integrated circuit packaging leader Huitian Technology (Nanjing); and Yang Tong, chairman of metaverse interaction firm Nanjing Kaiwei Network Technology. The stage represented key sectors like smart grids, automotive parts, integrated circuits, new energy, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, industrial software, and digital consumption. Yang Tong, whose “Agnes AI” product serves nearly 10 million overseas users, noted it was his first time sharing the stage with municipal leadership.

The seating arrangement in Anhui’s meeting similarly conveyed respect for innovation. Kong Weicheng, a post-90s quantum scientist and founder of Origin Quantum, was seated beside provincial leaders. His company is advancing the engineering application of domestically developed quantum computers. Outside the venue, an exhibition featured a quantum chip the size of a fingernail, labeled as possessing “computing power equivalent to 100,000 classical servers.”

Fujian held its sixth consecutive New Year dialogue with private entrepreneurs. This year’s session included 16 representatives spanning traditional industries and emerging fields like new materials, autonomous driving, and brain-computer interfaces. Private enterprise remains a cornerstone of Fujian’s economy, with its value-added output reaching 4.2 trillion yuan in 2025.

In Hubei, the meeting featured a live flight demonstration of a ton-class, fully-ducted “flying saucer” eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft)—a scene described as “science fiction becoming reality.” Four Hubei-made eVTOL models were displayed, alongside 31 humanoid robots showcasing enhanced AI capabilities, including sensory differentiation between water and vinegar. These demonstrations highlighted Hubei’s push to lead in future industries.

Wuhan’s gathering included a speech by Andreas Schachtner, global R&D testing head of German auto parts giant ZF Group’s LIFETEC division—the first foreign guest speaker in the event’s history. Schachtner emphasized Wuhan’s role as one of ZF’s three global R&D hubs. The city’s actual utilized foreign capital exceeded 200 billion yuan in 2025, reflecting its widening openness.

Hebei prioritized business environment improvements for the fourth straight year, inviting 61 state-owned and private entrepreneurs to sit in the front rows, with government officials behind them. Hunan honored 100 outstanding private entrepreneurs, with provincial leaders personally shaking hands with each attendee after the event—a gesture underscoring the sector’s contribution to half of the province’s tax revenue, 70% of its GDP, and over 90% of technological innovations.

Wuhan’s meeting also welcomed deputy mayors from eight neighboring cities—Huangshi, Ezhou, Xiaogan, Huanggang, Xianning, Xiantao, Tianmen, and Qianjiang—to discuss collaborative development of a world-class metropolitan cluster. Qianjiang’s deputy mayor, Long Sihui, cited strengthened cooperation in crayfish supply chains following Wuhan’s outreach. The Wuhan metropolitan area’s economic output reached 3.8 trillion yuan in 2025, accounting for over 60% of provincial GDP.

These细节, though small, speak volumes: centering entrepreneurs honors value creators; elevating scientists respects innovation; inviting foreign voices affirms openness; and showcasing technology signals commitment to future industries. As one entrepreneur remarked, “Actions, not words, matter most—where I’m seated says it all.”