On December 24, the 2016 Glorious Zhejiang Merchants Annual Conference and Symposium Honoring the “Craftsman Spirit” were held in Zhejiang. Zhou Xiaoguang was awarded the title of “Glorious Zhejiang Merchant 2016” and delivered a speech on-site as the rotating chairperson of the 2016 and 2017 Glorious Zhejiang Merchants Annual Conferences. Zhou Xiaoguang is currently the only person ever to have served as rotating chairperson of the Glorious Zhejiang Merchants Annual Conference for two consecutive years.

Group photo of the recipients of the 3rd “Glorious Zhejiang Entrepreneur” Award 2016

The founders of Xinguang Group, Zhou Xiaoguang and her husband, were among the first entrepreneurs to launch the “chicken feather-to-sugar” business in Yiwu. Starting from itinerant merchants traveling far and wide, they have grown into a large private enterprise group with total assets exceeding 60 billion yuan, encompassing industries such as manufacturing, real estate, investment, finance, e-commerce, and energy tourism. Originating from the “Yiwu Model,” Xinguang Group was the first to complete its transformation—from a wholesaler to a retailer and from a manufacturer to a brand operator, thereby leading the upgrading and transformation of the “Yiwu Model.” They put this belief into practice: true success isn't about blocking others' paths, but rather about inspiring others to walk alongside you. Guided by the principle of “competition and harmony,” they have forged a uniquely distinctive path of ecological development characterized by harmonious coexistence.

Xinguang Group boasts the world’s largest production base for fashion accessories, offering over one million product styles and multiple sub-brands. The company develops more than 100 new products daily and has been granted 427 nationally authorized patents. It has successfully transitioned from a single-brand strategy to a multi-brand portfolio. Its sales network spans over 90 countries and regions worldwide, setting trends in China’s fashion accessory industry.

Singlum Jewelry, part of the Singlum Group

On April 26, 2016, Xinguang Yuancheng Co., Ltd. (stock abbreviation: “Xinguang Yuancheng”; stock code: 002147.SZ) was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Following the restructuring, the company has become a dual-core listed company primarily engaged in real estate development and commercial operations, with supporting businesses including the production and operation of slewing bearings. The company has achieved a qualitative leap in terms of assets, revenue, and market capitalization, elevating its business operations to a new level.

Zhou Xiaoguang, Chairwoman of Xinguang Group, and three other bell-ringers jointly struck the “treasure bell” to mark the company’s IPO.

The Yiwu World Trade Center, meticulously crafted by the Xinguang Group, is not merely a urban complex—it’s also a miniature urban ecosystem characterized by “sharing, co-management, and mutual success.” In the future, it will become a residential community tailored specifically for “future-oriented” individuals, including returnees from overseas and foreign investors. It will also serve as a nurturing ground for their intellectual exchanges, cross-pollination of ideas, and entrepreneurial innovation.

Yiwu World Trade Center

In her speech at the event, Zhou Xiaoguang stated that in the face of a new normal, a new positioning, and new challenges, the Zhejiang merchant spirit can evolve with the times by incorporating the “craftsman spirit” and the Xin Guang Group’s philosophy—“The highest excellence is like water; striving for harmony and unity with the world”—into what she calls the “Three Treasures of Zhejiang Merchants”: the craftsman spirit of “pursuing perfection and being meticulous in every detail,” the innovative spirit of “constantly enhancing value and continuously contributing to society,” and the open-mindedness of “embracing all rivers and streams, embodying the virtue of water.” Honorable Zhejiang merchants, who are upright and responsible, must have the confidence and capability to meet both the challenges and opportunities brought about by transformation and upgrading. By harnessing their “artisan heart,” they can forge industry-leading quality, shape the spirit and values of an entire industry, and become a vital force driving economic development and social progress. Let us learn to embrace diversity, foster cooperation, and become a single drop of water that embraces the world, thereby achieving safe, healthy, and sustainable development!

Speech by Zhou Xiaoguang, Chairperson of Xinguang Group

She also said, “The Global Forum of Glorious Zhejiang Entrepreneurs is an excellent platform for serving Zhejiang’s business community. Through initiatives such as the Glorious Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Roundtable and the Glorious Zhejiang Entrepreneurs University’s mentorship programs, relationships among Zhejiang entrepreneurs have become even closer, collaboration has increased, and their capacity for sustainable development has been strengthened.” After expressing admiration for the contributions made by the two previous rotating chairpersons of the annual conference—Secretary Feng Yali from Hailiang Group and Chairwoman Chen Ailian from Wanfeng Auto—Zhou Xiaoguang stated that she would live up to the responsibility and make her own contribution to ensuring the success of the Glorious Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Annual Conference!

Group photo from the 2016 Gala of Glorious Zhejiang Entrepreneurs