Hunan Provincial Party Secretary conducts research in three locations, revealing new governance directions behind hidden dangers.
Deep in the mountains of western Hunan, Secretary Shen Xiaoming’s footsteps traversed through enterprise workshops, farmland villages, and also crossed polluted streams and dangerous school buildings, sketching a real picture of Hunan’s development during the transformation period.
From October 11 to 14, Secretary Shen Xiaoming conducted an intensive investigation into economic and social development in Huaihua, Shaoyang, and Chenzhou. During the investigation, Shen not only visited local characteristic industries and livelihood projects but also conducted a series of unannounced inspections, directly addressing sharp issues such as environmental governance and safety hazards.
In Huaihua, he inspected the inadequate pollution control of the Taiping River; in Shaoyang, he pointed out the safety hazards caused by road construction forming landslide lakes; in Chenzhou, he checked the C-class dangerous teaching building at Qifengdu Middle School in Suxian District. These surprise inspections exposed the shortcomings in local development and conveyed a clear signal from the provincial level to strengthen precise governance.
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01 Research Route: Commonalities and Characteristics of Visits to Three Locations
In four days, across three cities, Shen Xiaoming’s research route was tight and orderly. From Huaihua in western Hunan to Shaoyang in central Hunan, and then to Chenzhou in southern Hunan, this route spans the eastern and western regions of Hunan, covering cities with different development conditions and characteristics.
In Huaihua, Shen inspected Hunan Zhengqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., gaining detailed insights into the company’s product research and development, production, and sales. He visited the ancient village of Jingping in Zhongfang County, observing cultural tourism scenes and understanding the situation of cultural heritage protection and utilization.
He also visited the General Hospital of Hunan Medical University to learn about the construction of key clinical specialties and remote consultation.
The research points in Shaoyang included the “Shaoyang Red” quality agricultural product distribution center, Shaoyang Weike Hydraulic Co., Ltd., and Caike Village in Daxiang District. These research points covered multiple fields such as agricultural branding, industrial manufacturing, and rural revitalization.
In Chenzhou, Shen investigated the deep processing and strategic reserve base of non-ferrous metals, Hunan Greyp New Energy Co., Ltd., and the Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe. This route reflects Chenzhou’s characteristics as a hometown of non-ferrous metals, a new energy development base, and a cultural city.
Although the characteristics of each place differ, Shen Xiaoming’s research content revolved around the main line of successfully concluding the 14th Five-Year Plan and scientifically planning the 15th Five-Year Plan.
02 Surprise Inspections: Directly Addressing Problem-Oriented Issues
Unlike conventional research, Shen Xiaoming specifically arranged surprise inspections during all three investigations, directly targeting the pain points and difficulties in local governance.
In Huaihua, Shen conducted a surprise inspection of the inadequate pollution control of the Taiping River. He emphasized the need to make a firm decision, address both symptoms and root causes, thoroughly understand the shortcomings in urban underground pipeline construction, and gradually rectify them, solidly promoting comprehensive river basin governance and ecological restoration.
In Shaoyang, Shen inspected the safety hazards caused by three landslide lakes resulting from road construction in the Shaoyang Economic Development Zone. He required a pragmatic study of solutions and to strengthen scientific planning for infrastructure construction during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
In Chenzhou, Shen conducted a surprise inspection of the safety hazards of the C-class dangerous teaching building at Qifengdu Middle School in Suxian District. He clearly requested a comprehensive understanding of similar risk hazards across the province and timely rectification and remediation, effectively safeguarding the safety bottom line.
These surprise inspections reflect the courage and pragmatic style of provincial leaders in facing problems. Through these inspections, Shen bypassed the potential “bonsai-style” research and directly addressed the key issues, understanding the real situation.
03 Discussion and Instructions: Development Guidance Tailored to Local Conditions
At the end of each local investigation, Shen Xiaoming presided over a discussion meeting to listen to local work reports and provide direction for the next steps in development for the three cities.
For Huaihua, Shen emphasized the need to continue efforts in building a modern industrial system and stimulate the motivation of business entities to grow stronger. He specifically pointed out the need to accelerate the construction of the Huaihua International Land Port and significantly enhance the capacity of the open platform.
For Shaoyang, Shen proposed to focus on the high-quality development of the private economy, balancing the relationship between relying on technological innovation to develop new productive forces and promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. He required Shaoyang to fully utilize the global network of Shaoyang merchants.
In Chenzhou, Shen pointed out the need to focus on building a modern industrial system and unwaveringly promote the high-end, intelligent, and green development of the non-ferrous metal industry. He also requested Chenzhou to further build and utilize major platforms such as the Chenzhou area of the Free Trade Pilot Zone.
Although the instructions varied in focus, building a modern industrial system, deepening reform and opening up, strengthening ecological protection, ensuring and improving people’s livelihoods, and promoting strict governance of the Party were common requirements Shen Xiaoming put forward for the three cities.
04 Work Method: The Dialectical Unity of Visible Achievements and Hidden Contributions
Shen Xiaoming’s three investigations reflect a distinct methodology—achieving both visible results and seeking hidden contributions, striving to unify short-term goals with long-term development.
During the investigations, he focused on the successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan while also emphasizing the scientific planning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. This arrangement reflects a dialectical thinking that combines the present with the future.
He required localities to work hard on stimulating the motivation of business entities and improving the investment attraction mechanism, which are all “hidden contributions” that solidify the foundation for development.
At the same time, he also valued long-term livelihood work that benefits cultural heritage protection and transmission, educational development, and the construction of service systems for the elderly and children.
During the investigation in Shaoyang, Shen particularly pointed out the need to “promote the sincere essence of Hunan culture and further establish and practice the correct view of achievements.” This statement is profound, suggesting that the provincial level of Hunan is guiding local cadres to abandon the short-sighted development model and pursue a more sustainable and higher-quality development path.
05 Deep Layout: Strategic Shift in Hunan’s Development
Shen Xiaoming’s intensive research in the three cities and the early planning of the 15th Five-Year Plan reflect a deep layout of Hunan’s medium- and long-term development strategy.
From the choice of research locations, Huaihua, Shaoyang, and Chenzhou are relatively underdeveloped areas in Hunan Province, but each has its development advantages and potential.
Huaihua is positioned as a “central city in the border area of five provinces,” and Shen required it to “deeply integrate into the new land-sea corridor in the west,” reflecting the importance placed on Huaihua’s position as a regional logistics hub.
Shaoyang is expected to “focus on expanding trade with Africa as a key direction for foreign trade, utilizing the national-level platforms of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Pilot Zone and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.” This instruction aligns with Shaoyang’s commercial tradition and the advantages of the Shaoyang merchant network.
Chenzhou is to “better connect and integrate into major national strategies such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” a positioning that fully utilizes Chenzhou’s geographical advantage as the southern gateway of Hunan.
From Shen Xiaoming’s positioning and requirements for the three cities, it is evident that Hunan Province is committed to promoting differentiated development based on comparative advantages, avoiding homogeneous competition, and forming a unified development pattern across the province.
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At the end of the research, Shen Xiaoming emphasized at the discussion meeting in Chenzhou that “grasping the successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and planning for the 15th Five-Year Plan is currently an important task.” This statement is not only a requirement for Chenzhou but also a strategic guide for the future development of the entire province of Hunan.
From Huaihua in western Hunan to Shaoyang in central Hunan and then to Chenzhou in southern Hunan, the footsteps of the Provincial Party Secretary traverse mountains and rivers, linking the new pattern of multi-polar development in Hunan.
The pollution, dangerous buildings, and landslide lakes that were directly confronted during the surprise inspections are no longer hidden numbers beneath reports but become fortresses that Hunan must overcome in its pursuit of higher quality and more sustainable development.