Liu Yonghao: Traditional enterprises in the new era need to take flight with the "wings of technology".

Liu Yonghao, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairman of New Hope Group, delivered a keynote speech and answered questions from reporters on the "State Affairs Forum" hosted by China News Service on the 16th, focusing on topics such as how to promote high-quality and full employment and how traditional enterprises can accelerate transformation and upgrading in the new era.

The "Suggestions of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" proposes to promote high-quality and full employment. It calls for deepening the implementation of the employment-first strategy, improving the employment promotion mechanism, and building an employment-friendly development model.

In his keynote speech, Liu Yonghao pointed out that stable employment can take three forms: stabilizing traditional employment, expanding new-type employment, and revitalizing flexible employment. He stated that traditional manufacturing remains the most important sector for solving employment issues, and stabilizing traditional employment is the foundation for stabilizing employment and promoting consumption. Technology-based enterprises are growing rapidly, and expanding new-type employment requires extending the technology industry chain and increasing employment opportunities in upstream and downstream sectors. For flexible employment to thrive, he suggested introducing moderately relaxed policies to support flexible employment while establishing a corresponding social security system.

Liu Yonghao compared the changes in production conditions at New Hope Group over its 40-year development, illustrating the company's approach of creating jobs through industry. He argued that for private enterprises to grow stronger, it's not just about increasing scale and output value, but also about taking on greater social responsibility.

In his speech, Liu Yonghao also discussed the need to actively respond to the economic transformation from "high growth" to "high-quality development." He believes that in this process, enterprises face favorable timing, location, and human factors. "Favorable timing" refers to the Party and government's strong concern for the development of private enterprises, and the policies introduced to encourage, support, and promote their healthy development. "Favorable location" refers to the rapid development of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, coupled with China's large market and world-leading manufacturing system. "Human factors" refers to the entrepreneurial spirit cultivated by over 40 years of reform and opening up. Private entrepreneurs are known for their hard work and resilience, while state-owned enterprise entrepreneurs are responsible and committed.

In an interview, Liu Yonghao further emphasized that traditional enterprises must accelerate their transformation and upgrading in the new era: on the one hand, they must embrace "the wings of technology." Faced with the rapid development of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, enterprises must embrace new technologies, apply them, use them, and become familiar with them, thus gaining new wings; on the other hand, they must change their mindset and continuously meet the new consumption demands of the people.

Liu Yonghao stated that in the past, traditional enterprises were keen on pursuing more investment, more hiring, and more factories. Now, it's no longer simply a matter of "hiring more" and "doing more," but rather considering how to do things better and with higher quality. This requires enterprises to base themselves on the fundamental demands of the people. "Traditional enterprises must change their mindset; it's not about 'the more the better,' but about what the people like."

Liu Yonghao mentioned that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the people's aspirations for a better life will not change. Faced with the new consumption demands of the people, enterprises must conduct targeted research and develop new products and services. In 2026, New Hope Group will make some new attempts in product development, branding, and marketing.

“For example, in the past two years, we've promoted tree tomatoes from Yunnan. These are tomatoes that grow on trees, have a unique taste, and high nutritional value. People didn't take them seriously before, but now we've turned them into a new product, and they're very popular,” Liu Yonghao explained.

In September 2023, New Hope Group's subsidiary, New Hope Flavoring, launched “Youyan Youwei” tree tomato hot pot base, which was subsequently listed on Sam's Club and quickly gained market attention, achieving outstanding sales performance. Currently, “Youyan Youwei” tree tomato hot pot base has annual sales of 200 to 300 million yuan.

“Our main task is to process agricultural products distributed throughout the country into distinctive, fresh products that people like. This is what we should be doing most—discovering new products and giving them new life through innovation and new technology,” Liu Yonghao stated.

Furthermore, Liu Yonghao mentioned that in 2026, New Hope Group will also make some changes to its marketing methods. In addition to traditional wholesale and retail sales and branch sales, it will further increase its online sales layout and combine domestic and overseas sales.

The Central Economic Work Conference emphasized that economic work in 2026 should "adhere to innovation-driven development and accelerate the cultivation and expansion of new growth drivers." Liu Yonghao believes that in 2026, China's new quality productivity will make significant progress, and the application of artificial intelligence and big data models in various industries will further increase, becoming a major highlight of China's economy in 2026.

"In the agriculture and food sectors, we are also actively expanding our presence. For example, we are cooperating with some high-quality artificial intelligence companies, combining their research results with our product lines and systems. Currently, we are already promoting cooperation in this area with many companies, and the results are obvious," Liu Yonghao said.