A symposium for private entrepreneurs was held as part of the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum on March 17. The meeting was chaired by Xu Qin, Secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee, with Governor Liang Huiling and Wang Hongyan, Vice Chairperson of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, also in attendance.

Several business leaders delivered remarks during the symposium, including:

Forum Chairperson and MicroConnect Founder Li Xiaojia; Forum Co-Chairperson and 58.com Chairman Yao Jinbo; New Oriental Education & Technology Chairman Yu Minhong; Wumart Group Founder Zhang Wenzhong; GSR Ventures Partner Ding Jian; CITIC Capital Chairman Zhang Yichen; Sino Biopharmaceutical CEO Xie Chengrun; Kunlun Core CEO Ouyang Jian; Hytera Communications Chairman Chen Qingzhou; UFactory Chairman Liu Peichao; Airbus Global Executive Vice President Xu Gang; and IDG Capital Founding Partner Xiong Xiaoge.

The 26th annual meeting of the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum opened on the same day.

Several key points are noteworthy:

First, the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum serves as a platform for idea exchange among entrepreneurs. Established in 2001, its winter annual meeting is regularly held in Heilongjiang Province. Each year, leading entrepreneurs, experts, and scholars from various industries gather to discuss the most pressing economic issues in China.

Recent annual meetings and their themes include: - March 17, 2023: The 23rd annual meeting, themed "Promoting Entrepreneurship and Driving High-Quality Development." - February 21, 2024: The 24th annual meeting, themed "Building a New Development Pattern and Advancing High-Quality Development." - February 21, 2025: The 25th annual meeting, themed "Cultivating New Quality Productive Forces and Empowering High-Quality Development." - March 17, 2026: The 26th annual meeting, themed "Confidence, Opportunity, and a New Chapter."

Following a decision by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the forum chairperson’s term was extended from one year to two starting in 2023, with the addition of a co-chairperson role. Yu Minhong was the first to serve a two-year term as chairperson. In 2024, Li Xiaojia succeeded him. In December 2025, Yao Jinbo was elected as the 2026 co-chairperson. The forum also welcomed three new council members: Unitree Robotics Founder and CEO Wang Xingxing, CITIC Capital Chairman Zhang Yichen, and iKang Healthcare Group Founder, Chairman, and CEO Zhang Ligang.

Second, supporting the growth of private enterprises is a key objective of the forum. China places great emphasis on the development of the private economy, with measures to "strengthen the private economy" included in the 15th Five-Year Plan. The plan outlines support for the enactment of a private economy promotion law, the establishment of comprehensive service systems, and improved communication channels between government and enterprises.

The private economy continues to expand in scale and importance, serving as a major driver of growth and employment. As of the end of May 2025, there were 185 million private economic entities nationwide, accounting for 96.76% of all market entities—a 2.3% year-on-year increase. Among these, the number of private enterprises exceeded 58 million, up 5.2% year-on-year.

The private economy contributes over 50% of tax revenue, 60% of GDP, 70% of technological innovations, 80% of urban employment, and 90% of the total number of enterprises.

However, a relatively weak private sector remains a challenge for Heilongjiang’s development. Data from the first quarter of 2025 showed 646,000 private enterprises in the province, a 6% increase year-on-year. Private investment grew rapidly, rising 17.9% year-on-year—7.5 percentage points higher than the same period the previous year and 17.5 percentage points above the national average.

Third, the government has committed to "continually optimizing the business environment and providing sincere service support." The private economy is vital to Heilongjiang’s comprehensive revitalization. In recent years, the province has implemented multiple measures to support its growth.

In November 2022, Heilongjiang introduced the "Several Opinions on Revitalizing and Developing the Private Economy," widely referred to as the "45 Measures for the Private Economy," aimed at addressing structural weaknesses.

These measures focus on boosting confidence among private market entities, expanding development opportunities, ensuring transparent governance, promoting fair legal and financial environments, fostering healthy government-business relationships, and supporting the growth of private entrepreneurs.

In September 2024, the province released additional policies to stimulate private investment, enhance factor support, upgrade the private economy, and create a first-class business environment.

This year’s provincial government work report also emphasized promoting high-quality development in the private sector, increasing credit support, strengthening collaboration between private and state-owned enterprises, and supporting key firms in scaling up and improving efficiency.

During the March 17 symposium, Xu Qin highlighted Heilongjiang’s commitment to leading industrial innovation through technology, developing new quality productive forces, building a modern industrial system, and fostering healthy, high-quality growth in the private economy.

He stated that the provincial government will continue to improve the business environment and provide dedicated support to help private entrepreneurs gain confidence, seize opportunities, and open new chapters.

Liang Huiling expressed hope that entrepreneurs would align with national development strategies, identify opportunities within Heilongjiang’s revitalization, and achieve mutual benefits through collaboration.

Business leaders indicated they would leverage their resources, technology, and platforms to actively embrace the digital and intelligent economy and contribute to Heilongjiang’s development.