Market Dynamics

"Infrastructure connectivity—particularly in transportation—is both the foundation and the focal point of the Belt and Road Initiative. As the strategic impacts of initiatives like the Belt and Road, China (Henan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone, Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xinxiang National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, and the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration continue to converge, Henan Province, strategically located at the heart of central China, is steadily emerging as a key player on the global stage of openness. Actively aligning with national policies and rooted in people's livelihoods, Henan Zhongyuan Aquatic Product Logistics Port has taken concrete actions to support the province's integration into the broader Belt and Road framework, making significant contributions to economic and social development. Over the past five years, Henan’s distinct advantages as a major transportation hub and logistics powerhouse have played a vital role in advancing its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative."

Overseas returnees are driving China forward, as their dreams light the way ahead. The "2017 Third Annual Overseas Chinese Dream Gala," hosted by the People's Forum Magazine of the People's Daily, opened in Beijing on January 8. At the event, Wei Chenghui, Executive Chairman of a Singapore-based food group, expressed his admiration for Lee Kuan Yew’s visionary outlook. Back in the 1990s, Lee Kuan Yew led a team to China and immediately recognized the country’s immense market potential. He actively encouraged the promotion of Mandarin and advocated for expanding overseas. Singapore has always maintained a keen interest in China’s development and its vibrant Chinese community—and indeed, Singapore’s growth and engagement with China have been deeply intertwined over the years. As Wei pointed out, "The Belt and Road Initiative is not

On the afternoon of January 21, a delegation of over 40 representatives from council member companies of the Henan Provincial Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises—led by Mr. Xu Daqun, Director of the Henan Provincial Investment Promotion Bureau, and Mr. Hu Baosen, Chairman of Jianye Group and President of the Association—visited the Henan Zhongyuan Siji Aquatic Product Logistics Port. Accompanied by Mr. Qiu Xinhang, Chairman of the port and Vice President of the Association, the group conducted an on-site inspection of the port’s operations and development, taking time to listen carefully to Mr. Qiu Xinhang’s insights on Zhongyuan Siji’s progress.

On May 26, the Guosheng Think Tank and the Belt and Road Professional Committee of the China Society for Business History awarded Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Product Logistics Port Co., Ltd. the title of "Silk Road International Brand Port."

As a key component of Henan Province and Zhengzhou City's "Vegetable Basket" project, Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Product Logistics Port is deeply rooted in people's livelihoods. Driven by innovation, it continuously promotes the digital transformation and upgrading of the cold-chain logistics industry, taking concrete actions to help Henan build new developmental advantages and support the region's high-quality economic growth. Located in the heart of Central China, Henan Province has been steadily advancing toward greater openness in recent years. Seizing strategic opportunities presented by national initiatives such as building a new development paradigm, promoting high-quality growth in central China during the new era, advancing ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, and establishing free trade pilot zones, Henan is striving to become a vital node in China’s domestic circulation loop and a strategic link between domestic and international dual circulations. The province is committed to leading the way in areas like technological innovation, rural revitalization, ecological conservation, and sustainable development. As a key part of Henan Province and Zhengzhou City's "Vegetable Basket" project, Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Product Logistics Port remains focused on serving the public good while leveraging innovation to drive growth. It actively pushes forward the digital transformation and modernization of the cold-chain logistics sector, demonstrating tangible commitment to helping Henan establish new competitive advantages and contribute to the region's high-quality economic development. **Accelerating the Construction of a Modern Circulation System and Driving Transformation in the Logistics Industry** Henan is actively participating in the construction of the new development paradigm by focusing precisely on optimizing supply, expanding demand, ensuring smooth circulation, and deepening reform and opening-up. The province is honing its strengths in key areas while making significant strides in integrating into the broader national development framework. Currently, Henan’s advantageous geographic location and transportation network are rapidly transforming into pivotal hub connectivity benefits; its abundant human resources are increasingly becoming a powerful asset for cultivating talent and capital; its vast market potential is swiftly evolving into robust domestic demand systems; its strong industrial foundation is accelerating into enhanced capabilities for delivering effective supply solutions; and its thriving agricultural and rural sectors are rapidly turning into driving forces for rural revitalization. These emerging advantages are crucial pillars supporting Henan’s seamless integration into the "dual circulation" strategy. Under the new development paradigm, domestic demand will increasingly serve as the core determinant of regional competitiveness. Henan has positioned expanding domestic demand as the strategic cornerstone for fully embracing this new development model, with a focus on boosting investment and stimulating consumption. At the same time, the province views advancing industrial transformation and upgrading as a critical lever for achieving deeper integration into the new development framework, aiming to elevate the sophistication of its industrial chains and enhance overall production capabilities. Furthermore, Henan recognizes the importance of ensuring smooth circulation of essential production factors and resources as a robust foundation for its integration efforts. To this end, the province is accelerating the development of a modern circulation system, prioritizing cold-chain logistics, express delivery logistics, and e-commerce logistics, thereby continuously driving the transformation and upgrading of the entire logistics industry and fostering smoother economic circulation networks. On March 30, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee convened a meeting to review the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development in Central China in the New Era." The meeting emphasized that, as an integral part of China’s vast national market and a pivotal spatial hub, central China must clearly define its role, leverage its unique strengths, and expedite the construction of advanced infrastructure and modern circulation systems. This includes fostering the growth of the Yangtze River Midstream Urban Cluster and the Central Plains Urban Cluster, comprehensively advancing rural revitalization, and proactively aligning itself with the overarching goals of the new development paradigm. As the most populous, economically largest, and industrially strongest province in central China, Henan plays a leading role in driving high-quality development across the region. By seizing these golden opportunities and capitalizing on its inherent advantages, the province is poised to accelerate its rise during this critical period of accumulated momentum. Henan is uniquely positioned as a strategic crossroads connecting east and west, north and south, boasting exceptional geographic and transportation advantages. These natural assets make the province ideally suited to excel in modern circulation services and seamlessly integrate into both domestic and international economic loops. Leveraging its cutting-edge transportation infrastructure, Henan is accelerating the conversion of its geographical strengths into robust hub connectivity benefits, using major transportation hubs to catalyze advanced logistics networks and foster thriving industries. Ultimately, the province aims to establish itself as an internationally recognized leader in hub-based economies, creating a pioneering zone for logistics-driven economic growth with global influence. **Central and Local Policies Fueling Rapid Cold-Chain Logistics Transformation** The cold-chain logistics industry is a vital segment of modern logistics and serves as a critical backbone supporting the agricultural product supply chain. In recent years, China’s cold-chain logistics sector has experienced steady expansion, with market size growing annually. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for frozen products surged dramatically, accompanied by heightened consumer recognition of their quality and convenience. This surge has ushered in a new era of rapid growth for the frozen food and cold-chain industries. According to data from the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing (CFLP) Cold Chain Committee, China’s total cold storage capacity is projected to surpass 70.8 million tons in 2020, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.1%. Meanwhile, the number of refrigerated trucks nationwide is expected to reach approximately 286,700 units, marking a substantial 33.54% rise compared to the previous year. **Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Product Logistics Port: Zhengzhou’s Centralized Regulatory Hub for Imported Cold-Chain Foods** Given its critical role in safeguarding public health and ensuring food safety, the cold-chain logistics sector has garnered significant attention from policymakers at all levels—ranging from the central government down to local authorities. A series of targeted policies have been rolled out to guide and promote the healthy development of the industry, covering diverse aspects such as establishing cold-chain infrastructure, supporting agricultural products, addressing pandemic-related requirements, and advancing industry digitalization. For instance, the No. 1 Central Document of 2021 outlined numerous measures aimed at comprehensively advancing rural revitalization and accelerating agricultural and rural modernization—among which developing cold-chain logistics stands out as a key initiative. The document specifically calls for "expediting the implementation of projects to build agricultural product storage, preservation, and cold-chain logistics facilities, while simultaneously promoting the construction of small-scale on-farm storage and preservation facilities, low-temperature direct-sales distribution centers at origin sites, and national backbone cold-chain logistics bases." To ensure the effective implementation of the directives set forth in the No. 1 Central Document and the outcomes of the Central Rural Work Conference, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Construction of Agricultural Product Supply Chain Systems" on May 10.The focus should be on strengthening cross-regional agricultural wholesale markets and backbone cold-chain logistics systems, addressing the shortcomings in agricultural product distribution infrastructure, and ensuring smooth flow along the "major arteries" of agricultural supply chains. At the same time, it’s crucial to enhance primary processing facilities in production areas—specifically the "first kilometer"—while improving the "last-mile" services provided by farmers' markets and vegetable markets, thereby fostering a robust "micro-circulation" in agricultural product distribution. Henan boasts a superior transportation location and robust market demand, with notable industrial advantages in agricultural processing and food manufacturing. This positions the province uniquely well-suited—and equipped—to rapidly develop its cold-chain logistics sector. The provincial Party Committee and government have placed high priority on transforming and upgrading the cold-chain logistics industry, recognizing it as a key pillar for building a strong service-oriented economy and advancing hub-based economic growth. Cold-chain logistics is seen as a vital tool for supporting national development strategies, optimizing resource allocation, driving cost reductions and efficiency gains, and ultimately meeting the growing demand for higher-quality living standards among the population. To this end, multiple strategic measures are being implemented to accelerate progress. The "Henan Provincial Logistics Industry Transformation and Development Plan (2018–2020)" identifies cold-chain logistics as one of three critical priorities for accelerating the transformation of Henan’s modern logistics sector. By 2020, the plan aims to establish a comprehensive cold-chain logistics system across the province—complete with advanced facilities, standardized operations, and highly efficient services. As part of this vision, Zhengzhou is set to solidify its position as an international cold-chain logistics hub and a national distribution and sorting center for chilled goods, placing Henan among the nation’s leaders in cold-chain logistics development. The "Henan Provincial Cold-Chain Logistics Transformation and Development Action Plan" emphasizes a development approach centered around scale, standardization, smart technology, and specialization. It calls for refining industry standards and supportive policies, promoting institutional and operational innovations, addressing both hardware and software gaps, and nurturing a group of leading cold-chain logistics enterprises. The goal is to build a cutting-edge, modern cold-chain logistics ecosystem and establish Henan as a globally recognized powerhouse in this sector. Under the "14th Five-Year Plan," Henan has outlined a vision to create a modern logistics framework characterized by "channels + hubs + networks." The province plans to strengthen specialized logistics sectors such as cold-chain, air freight, e-commerce, and express delivery, aiming to build a trillion-yuan-level integrated logistics service ecosystem. Additionally, Henan is committed to driving digital transformation across industries, leveraging digital technologies to lead, catalyze, and empower innovation in manufacturing, agriculture, and the service sector. Key initiatives include the "5G + Industrial Internet" project, which focuses on attracting and developing industrial internet platforms, while also advancing digital agriculture and smart farming practices. Furthermore, the province is exploring new logistics models like "Internet + vehicle-cargo matching" and "non-vessel-operated carriers," alongside enhancing storage, preservation, and cold-chain logistics systems for agricultural products. These efforts aim to foster innovation in digital financial services and other related areas. **Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Products Logistics Port Agricultural Distribution Center** A series of recently introduced policies have clearly defined goals and directions for the transformation and development of Henan’s cold-chain logistics industry, propelling the sector into a fast-track phase of growth. As of the end of 2020, Henan had over 700 businesses operating in the cold-chain and refrigerated/temperature-controlled transportation sectors. Notably, Zhengzhou was selected as a National Backbone Cold-Chain Logistics Base in 2020. In the 2019 ranking of China’s Top 100 Cold-Chain Logistics Enterprises released by the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing’s Cold Chain Committee, Henan secured nine spots—ranking third nationwide, behind only Shanghai (21 companies) and Beijing (12 companies). **Leveraging Technology to Empower Cold-Chain Logistics Platforms and Support High-Quality Regional Economic Growth** Established in 2012 and 2013 as a key provincial and municipal project under Henan’s “Vegetable Basket” initiative, the Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Products Logistics Port carries a mission to deliver fresh, affordable, and conveniently accessible food options to consumers. Today, the port has grown into the largest wholesale logistics center in central and western China, specializing in seafood, freshwater products, livestock and poultry, frozen foods, warehousing, trading, and processing. Its trade network spans more than 20 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across China, while high-quality meat and aquatic products sourced from around the globe arrive via sea, rail, road, and air—often through multi-modal cold-chain logistics systems—for centralized distribution at the port. From there, these products are efficiently transported worldwide through diverse shipping channels. **A Well-Organized Marketplace at Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Products Logistics Port** Currently, the port features 280,000 tons of low-temperature cold storage capacity. To bolster epidemic prevention and control efforts, the company has invested heavily in constructing Zhengzhou’s centralized regulatory warehouse for imported cold-chain foods, ensuring food safety even amid ongoing pandemic challenges. Today, nearly 2,000 merchants operate within the port, supported by nearly 50 logistics firms. Annual trade volumes for meat and seafood products exceed 5 million tons, with frozen goods accounting for over 100 billion yuan in annual transactions. This thriving ecosystem supports more than 200,000 jobs, positioning the port as a pioneering model for integrating regional economic development with initiatives aimed at improving people’s livelihoods. In recent years, Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Products Logistics Port has actively pursued transformative upgrades in the cold-chain logistics sector, steering the entire supply chain toward greater intelligence, technological sophistication, and automation. This aligns closely with the province’s broader commitment to high-quality economic growth. Proactively embracing the Digital China initiative, the port leverages the industrial internet as a catalyst to drive innovation, seamlessly integrating digital technologies into every aspect of its cold-chain logistics operations. Through partnerships with Singapore’s First Group and Singapore Global Holdings, the port is intensifying efforts to build a robust, fully digitized cold-chain supply chain and logistics platform. By pioneering innovative cold-chain logistics models, the port is elevating both cold-chain technology and digital capabilities, paving the way for the sector’s evolution toward higher levels of sophistication and premium quality.Efforts are being made to advance the development of cold-chain logistics supply chain finance by establishing a collaborative platform among government, banks, and enterprises. This initiative involves comprehensive partnerships with financial institutions such as the Bank of Communications, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and China Construction Bank, alongside close communication and cooperation with upstream and downstream businesses. Together, these efforts aim to strengthen financial support services around the logistics hub, providing high-quality financial solutions to all merchants and suppliers nationwide. Leveraging supply chain finance and the strategic positioning of Zhengzhou as an international cold-chain logistics hub and the nation’s leading cold-chain distribution center, the hub is set to become a premier national gathering place for cold-chain logistics trading, industry clustering, and settlement services. Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Product Logistics Port is actively implementing Henan Province’s strategy to integrate into the Belt and Road Initiative, continuously building a comprehensive logistics network and expanding outward-bound collaborations across multiple dimensions. This approach aligns with the goal of enabling cold-chain products to be sourced globally and sold worldwide. Moreover, the port is committed to advancing the national innovation-driven development strategy by fostering the seamless integration of industrial and innovation chains, creating an integrated platform that combines research, education, and entrepreneurship. In a significant milestone, on May 26, Guosheng Think Tank and the Belt and Road Professional Committee of the China Business History Association jointly awarded Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Product Logistics Port Co., Ltd. the prestigious title of "Silk Road International Brand Port." Experts from the research team commended the port for its proactive response to national policies, its steadfast focus on improving people’s livelihoods, and its deep-rooted commitment to the cold-chain logistics sector. By taking concrete actions, the port has played a vital role in helping Henan province achieve high-quality integration into the broader Belt and Road framework, making outstanding contributions to regional economic and social development. It serves as a model and leader in Belt and Road initiatives, setting a benchmark for successful implementation of the initiative. Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Product Logistics Port Receives Recognition as "Silk Road International Brand Port" Today, digital transformation in cold-chain logistics has become an inevitable trend. Looking ahead, Henan Zhongyuan Four Seasons Aquatic Product Logistics Port must accelerate its digital transformation journey, embracing smart cold-chain logistics solutions to create a cutting-edge, intelligent logistics hub. This will serve as a new blueprint for driving the industry’s transition toward greater intelligence. By harnessing advanced digital technologies—such as big data, artificial intelligence, IoT, and blockchain—the port will enhance its digital supply chain service system, optimize its digital cold-storage management framework, refine its intelligent cold-chain tracking capabilities, and strengthen its multi-dimensional cold-chain logistics network infrastructure. These efforts will bolster the port’s competitive edge and elevate its service offerings. Furthermore, the port will explore innovative ways to leverage logistics information resources in critical areas like quality traceability, supply chain support services, operational management, inclusive finance, and corporate credit evaluation. By unlocking the full potential of data, the port aims to unlock new opportunities for high-quality industry growth. Additionally, it will continue to champion supply chain finance reforms, fostering deeper integration between capital flows, supply chains, and industrial ecosystems. This will help create a robust ecosystem that supports the digital transformation and upgrading of cold-chain logistics operations, as well as their upstream and downstream partners.

In July 2014, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to four Latin American countries, he warmly met with Mr. Qiu Xinhang, a representative of the accompanying business leaders.