Henan Zhongyuan Aquatic Product Logistics Port Supports the Belt and Road Initiative

　　Recently, the "Opinions on Creating a Healthy Growth Environment for Entrepreneurs, Promoting Outstanding Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Better Leveraging the Role of Entrepreneurs" clearly defined, for the first time, the significance and value of entrepreneurial spirit. The document elaborates on the essence of entrepreneurial spirit, highlighting that outstanding entrepreneurs in the new era should embody qualities such as patriotism, dedication to their work, compliance with laws and regulations, relentless perseverance, innovative development, unwavering focus on quality, relentless pursuit of excellence, proactive responsibility-taking, boldness in stepping up to challenges, and a strong commitment to serving society. These entrepreneurs are expected to actively align themselves with the nation's major policies and guidelines, proactively implement national strategic decisions, drive rapid economic and social progress, and inspire shared prosperity across society.

　　The launch of the Belt and Road Initiative keenly alerted Qiu Xinhang, Chairman of the Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port, to a historic business opportunity. As infrastructure connectivity and the development of cross-regional logistics networks are key pillars for implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, Qiu Xinhang decisively chose the cold-chain logistics sector as the entry point for his entrepreneurial journey. Under Qiu Xinhang’s leadership, after five years of growth, the company has now become one of the largest markets in China’s central and western regions—integrating the trading and processing of seafood, freshwater products, and livestock & poultry commodities. At the same time, it has also established itself as an advanced cold-chain, warehousing, and logistics hub serving the entire central and western region—and has become a model for putting the Belt and Road Initiative into practice.

　　A pioneer in closely integrating the Belt and Road Initiative with local livelihood projects, making outstanding contributions to economic and social development.

　　Aligning with the nation's Belt and Road Initiative to help businesses accelerate their growth

　　Qiu Xinhang believes that entrepreneurs should be patriotic and dedicated to their work, willing to take responsibility and actively respond to the nation's major policies and guidelines through concrete actions, ensuring the effective implementation of critical national decisions. It is precisely this proactive engagement with the country's strategic policies and decisive execution of key initiatives that have given rise to the Central China Aquatic Products Logistics Port—a vital project aimed at improving people's livelihoods. Moreover, as the "Belt and Road" initiative continues to gain momentum and companies increasingly benefit from related policy advantages, the firm has achieved rapid growth over the past five years.

　　Researchers from the Development Research Center of the State Council, including Li Guoqiang, Honorary Director of Guosheng Think Tank, and other think tank experts, conducted a field study at the Central China Aquatic Products Logistics Port.

　　In March 2015, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce jointly released the "Vision and Action Plan for Promoting the Joint Building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road," highlighting key priorities such as "expanding areas of mutual investment, fostering deep cooperation in sectors like agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, agricultural machinery, and agro-product processing and manufacturing," and actively advancing collaboration in fields including "marine aquaculture, distant-water fishing, and aquatic product processing." The plan also emphasized leveraging China's vast inland resources, abundant human capital, and robust industrial foundations—particularly through pivotal regions like the Central Plains Urban Cluster—to drive regional synergy, foster industrial clustering, and boost cooperative development. Additionally, it called for establishing "rail transport and customs clearance coordination mechanisms along the China-Europe corridor, strengthening efforts to build the 'China-Europe Railway Express' brand, and developing transportation routes that seamlessly connect domestic and international markets while linking East, Central, and West China." Furthermore, the initiative supports inland cities like Zhengzhou in developing aviation hubs and international land ports, enhancing customs cooperation between inland border crossings and coastal/land-border ports, and piloting cross-border e-commerce services. In February 2017, the State Council issued the "Notice on the Development Plan for a Modern Integrated Transportation System during the 13th Five-Year Period," which outlined steps to further optimize the layout of comprehensive transportation hubs. Notably, the document officially designated Zhengzhou as one of China’s twelve top-tier, internationally recognized integrated transportation hubs nationwide.

　　Meanwhile, provinces, regions, and municipalities across the country are also accelerating the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, while aligning with the central government's overarching strategic framework to clearly define their own roles and positioning within the initiative. Henan Province has specifically outlined its strategic vision: to become a vital integrated transportation hub and a leading trade, logistics, and commerce center along the Belt and Road, as well as a platform for regional collaboration along the New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor—and ultimately, an inland gateway for opening up to the outside world. In the 2017 Henan Provincial Government Work Report, it was explicitly stated that the province would leverage key transportation hubs like Zhengzhou to enhance their connectivity functions, using logistics to drive industrial growth and attracting industries to cluster around these hubs. This strategy aims to foster high-speed rail, aviation, and port-related industries. Additionally, Henan plans to vigorously develop hub-based economies by prioritizing five major industries—particularly focusing on advancing the integrated development of the cold-chain logistics sector.

　　As a key provincial project in Henan Province—and also a flagship initiative under the province and city’s “Vegetable Basket” program—the Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port has arrived at the perfect moment. At a time when China’s Belt and Road Initiative is accelerating its implementation, the company is seizing a historic opportunity for faster growth. With the deepening of the Belt and Road Initiative, Zhengzhou has emerged as a world-class, integrated transportation hub, connected by two airport terminals, 162 air routes, six major railway stations, two primary rail lines, six high-speed rail lines, 21 urban rail transit systems, and 11 expressways. The Zhengzhou-Europe freight train, which initially operated just one round trip per month, has now expanded to four outbound and four inbound services weekly—demonstrating the region’s growing prominence in continental trade. Meanwhile, Zhengzhou’s aviation hub continues to unlock its full logistical potential. These developments have significantly enhanced the port’s logistics capabilities, enabling it to expand its operational reach while drastically cutting down on overall transit times across the entire logistics network. This, in turn, has positioned the Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port as a vital node in the broader regional and international supply chain. Moreover, the Belt and Road Initiative not only strengthens the port’s domestic connectivity but also opens up new avenues for international collaboration, providing a robust platform for the port to forge partnerships and tap into global markets.

　　The Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port has signed a special research collaboration agreement with the "Belt and Road" Cultural Exchange and Economic Development Research Group. Together, the two parties will engage in joint research, academic discussions, expert consultations, and other collaborative activities centered around the "Belt and Road" initiative and the specific project of the Henan Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port. The "Henan Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port" project has been officially included in the dynamic database of "Belt and Road" initiatives, which currently features a selection of influential and highly impactful projects and engineering works across China that are driving the broader "Belt and Road" agenda. During a recent field visit to the Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port, Li Guoqiang, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council and Honorary Director of the Guosheng Think Tank, remarked that the company’s growth is closely aligned with the "Belt and Road" initiative. He noted that, amid the national implementation of the "Belt and Road" strategy, the external environment has provided robust support for the company’s development—and that its strategic direction is fully in sync with government policies. Li Guoqiang expressed strong confidence that, by leveraging its position within the "Belt and Road" framework, the Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port is poised to achieve significant momentum and success in the years ahead.

　　Occupying a leading position in the cold-chain industry's development

　　Pursuing excellence is one of the core tenets of outstanding entrepreneurial spirit—and it’s also the key driving force behind Qiu Xinhang’s leadership in steering the company’s sustained growth. For Qiu Xinhang, the long-term development goal for Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port is to rapidly scale up, strengthen its position, and enhance its quality, ultimately seizing a leading edge in China’s cold-chain industry and becoming an industry-leading enterprise.

　　First, the company is committed to becoming a leading large-scale cold-chain service provider, scaling up operations while continuously enhancing the quality and efficiency of its cold-chain services. As income levels rise, consumers are increasingly drawn to healthy food options, driving a growing demand for fresh, high-quality products. Frozen foods have already become an essential part of Chinese consumers' diets, particularly among urban populations. This evolving consumer demand is directly fueling the rapid growth of the frozen and cold-chain industry. Cold-chain logistics has always been a highly specialized and demanding segment of the supply chain, requiring significant capital investment in temperature-controlled equipment, strict adherence to precise temperature standards, and heavy reliance on energy resources. Balancing product quality with cost-efficiency remains one of the toughest challenges facing cold-chain enterprises today. To address this challenge effectively, one promising strategy is to accelerate the development of large-scale cold-chain service providers. Only by expanding their scale can these companies better position themselves to deliver superior services and maintain a competitive edge in the market. Currently, China’s cold-chain logistics and refrigerated warehouse sectors are still in their growth phase. Per capita cold-storage capacity in China is currently just one-fifth that of the United States, leaving ample room for future expansion. In response to this opportunity, Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port has taken proactive steps: the first phase of its project included the construction of an 180,000-ton cold storage facility, which was later expanded by an additional 70,000 tons to meet growing market demands. These strategic upgrades have significantly boosted the port’s overall freezing and refrigeration capabilities. Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage Zhengzhou’s strategic positioning as an international, comprehensive transportation hub under the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the ongoing development of the Zhengzhou-Europe Railway Express. By strengthening collaboration with Zhengzhou’s railway network, the company aims to establish Zhengzhou as a key railway-based cold-chain hub, elevating the city to a regional center for China’s cold-chain logistics. Ultimately, the goal is to transform frozen products and cold-chain services into Zhengzhou’s new hallmark, positioning the Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port as the nation’s leading distribution hub for frozen goods.Building on its efforts to expand business scale and enhance market competitiveness, Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port is also actively investing in the development of advanced cold-chain logistics and financial supply chains, complemented by a comprehensive, end-to-end信息化 (information technology) platform. Through innovative approaches to cold-chain logistics management and the adoption of cutting-edge technology, the company aims to elevate its cold-chain operations to new levels of sophistication and premium quality. This strategic focus not only reinforces the company’s leadership in the cold-chain sector but also firmly positions it at the forefront of industry innovation, enabling it to seize emerging opportunities and solidify its reputation as a global leader in cold-chain logistics.

　　Qiu Xinhang, Chairman of Henan Zhongyuan Aquatic Product Logistics Port, and Wei Chenghui, Chairman of the Board of Singapore's First Food Group, signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

　　Second, we have further refined the logistics network, attracting more businesses to operate within it and enabling sustained expansion of our business scale. Over the past three-plus years, Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port has actively invested in building its logistics infrastructure, steadily extending its reach across key import and export ports throughout China. Today, the port has essentially established a comprehensive network that connects not just individual points but entire routes, ultimately forming an integrated web of transportation links. The land-based logistics network aligns seamlessly with the ancient Maritime Silk Road, facilitating seamless cargo shipments from Lianyungang westward through major cities like Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Xi'an, Lanzhou, and Urumqi—eventually reaching Central Asia and European countries. Meanwhile, the maritime logistics network leverages Guangxi’s Beihai and Qinzhou ports, both historically significant starting points of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, to establish robust trade connections with Southeast Asian nations. In the domestic market, aquatic products previously could only be sold locally in Zhengzhou or nearby regions. However, thanks to the rapid advancement of e-commerce platforms and the robust logistics distribution network, Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port now serves as a regional hub, delivering goods to over 10 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions—including Jilin, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Chongqing. The enhanced cold-chain logistics system has significantly streamlined product transportation while reducing overall logistics costs. Coupled with the company’s expanded refrigerated storage capacity, this has made the port even more appealing to merchants, leading to a steady increase in the number of businesses operating there. When the port first opened in October 2013, it hosted just over 1,000 vendors; today, that number has surged to between 2,000 and 3,000, with annual merchandise transactions already surpassing 100 billion yuan. In 2016, Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port officially established Zhongbu Siji International Trade Co., Ltd., leveraging the strategic advantages of Henan’s Air Cargo Economic Zone and its meat import/export port. The company plans to invest 800 million RMB to construct a state-of-the-art cold-storage facility with a capacity of 100,000 tons, creating an international e-commerce spot trading center for meat products. This initiative aims to achieve an annual transaction volume exceeding 30 billion yuan. The successful operation of Zhongyuan Siji Aquatic Products Logistics Port has generated over 100,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, driving substantial growth in the local tertiary sector and delivering impressive economic and social benefits.

　　Multi-dimensional external collaboration drives innovation and leverages development.

　　Enterprise development requires timely innovation in approaches and methods. Leveraging strategic partnerships to achieve growth has become a critical strategy for accelerating business expansion today. Unlike the past, when companies relied solely on individual efforts and the personal heroism of their leaders to drive entrepreneurship, modern society now thrives on deepening specialization and collaboration. As businesses increasingly collaborate across various stages of the value chain—providing mutual support, sharing resources, and complementing each other’s strengths—they’re positioning themselves for faster, more sustainable growth. Even competitors within the same industry are increasingly embracing win-win cooperation as their top priority. It is precisely this collaborative mindset that has inspired Qiu Xinhang to lead Zhongyuan Aquatic Product Logistics Port in actively seeking partners both domestically and internationally, fostering multi-dimensional external collaborations, and tapping into external resources to fuel the company’s continued advancement.

　　Introducing Singapore's first food group, leveraging the strengths of international capital. Established in 1977, Singapore's pioneering food group is one of the country's largest private enterprises, led by its visionary Chinese-heritage Chairman, Mr. Wei Chenghui. The group boasts several publicly listed companies and remains a cornerstone of Singapore’s economy, with its food and construction sectors serving as its twin pillars. Its investment portfolio spans diverse industries—including steel, logistics, real estate, finance, telecommunications, and healthcare—operating across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa as a highly diversified, multinational corporate conglomerate. Zhongyuan Aquatic Products Logistics Port has welcomed Singapore’s leading food group as a strategic investor, partnering with them to jointly develop Zhongyuan Four Seasons Agricultural Products Logistics Port—a state-of-the-art, integrated warehousing and trading facility specializing in frozen seafood, livestock products, and seasonings. This cutting-edge hub not only enhances supply chain efficiency but also positions itself as a premier storage and distribution center for meat and seafood products on an international scale. In Tianjin, the company successfully acquired Tianjin Jin San International Logistics Co., Ltd., capitalizing on the strategic advantages of the city’s central fishing port and food hub within the Binhai New Area. As part of this initiative, they have expanded their cold-storage capacity to 150,000 tons, establishing an internationally recognized storage and trading center for meat and seafood products. This ambitious project is poised to become a global benchmark, with annual transaction volumes expected to exceed 50 billion RMB. Through this strategic collaboration with Singapore’s premier food group, Zhongyuan not only secures vital investment capital but also gains access to the proven management expertise of a world-class foreign enterprise. Moreover, the partnership enables seamless sharing of the strategic investor’s robust market channels, further strengthening Zhongyuan’s competitive edge in China’s dynamic agri-food sector.

　　In collaboration with COSCO Shipping Group and the Beihai Municipal Government, we are fully streamlining logistics and transportation along the Belt and Road Initiative, significantly expanding the market reach of our company’s products. By partnering with COSCO Shipping Group, we can establish a seamless sea-rail intermodal logistics system that integrates ocean shipping with rail transport. This allows us to directly load our cold-chain fresh food products—imported via sea freight from Europe and North America—into railway containers at COSCO’s specialized cold-chain ports. These products can then be efficiently distributed across our company’s network or delivered directly to customers via rail. Similarly, our products can also be transported directly by rail to COSCO’s ports, where they are promptly loaded onto ships for global distribution, helping us save substantial time and reduce warehousing costs. Additionally, through strategic investment partnerships with Beihai City, we aim to deeply tap into the burgeoning aquatic product markets across the Greater Beibu Gulf region, effectively connecting the Maritime Silk Road. Centered in Beihai City, we will extend our business presence outward, forging a new regional network that spans Southeast Asian countries and beyond.

　　Focusing on people's well-being and actively giving back to society

　　Consciously fulfilling social responsibility makes entrepreneurs true global citizens. As the fundamental building blocks of society, businesses—not only need to operate legally and generate profits—should also actively prioritize people's well-being, proactively embrace their social responsibilities, and continuously give back to the community. While taking on social obligations may increase operational costs and reduce profitability in the short term, it ultimately enhances a company’s reputation, strengthens customer loyalty, and paves the way for long-term, sustainable growth. That’s why more and more companies are now stepping up to voluntarily assume and fulfill their social responsibilities, regularly sharing updates with the public about how they’re making a positive impact.

　　The Zhongyuan Aquatic Product Logistics Port is driving local economic growth and improving people's livelihoods while actively fulfilling its social responsibilities. First, by ensuring the company’s steady and sustainable development, it not only creates more employment opportunities for the local community, boosting residents' incomes continuously, but also stimulates the growth of related industries, collectively contributing to increased tax revenues. Second, the company places great emphasis on enhancing the quality of life for ordinary citizens. What the public truly values are tangible benefits—real, visible, and meaningful "sense of gain" in their daily lives. As a key project under Henan Province and Zhengzhou City’s initiative to ensure food security, the Zhongyuan Aquatic Product Logistics Port is fully committed to serving the people, working tirelessly to deliver fresh seafood directly to the tables of Central China residents, making their lives more convenient and enjoyable. Moreover, the company has launched the "Care for Veteran Anti-Japanese War Soldiers" public welfare campaign, providing numerous retired veterans with opportunities to start and grow their own businesses at the logistics port. Additionally, the company actively participates in food safety initiatives, playing a leading role in establishing the Henan Provincial Food Safety Promotion Association and being elected as a vice-presidential unit. Together with other enterprises, they’ve jointly built a robust platform for collaborative governance of food safety across society. Beyond business operations, the company is deeply involved in charitable activities, making significant contributions to the broader cause of philanthropy. The "Belt and Road" Initiative isn’t just about benefiting China’s people—it also aims to usher in a path of shared prosperity and sustainable development for communities along the entire route. By fostering rapid growth, the company is helping to catalyze the mutual development of industries in neighboring countries and regions, ultimately empowering local populations to boost their incomes and improve their livelihoods.