Hefei, the capital of Anhui province, has appointed another official born in the 1970s as its top leader, further solidifying its status as a hub for high-tech venture investment in China.
On August 23, local media outlet Zhong'an Zaixian reported that the Anhui Provincial Standing Committee convened and appointed Qin Weiguo, a member of the Anhui Provincial Party Standing Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee, as the new Party Secretary of Hefei.
This appointment fills the vacancy left by the former Party Secretary, Fei Gaoyun, who was dismissed in May due to serious disciplinary violations.
Like his predecessor, Qin is a member of the 'Qilinghou' (born in the 1970s) generation. Born in 1970 in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, he graduated from Xi'an University of Technology and has earned both master's and doctoral degrees in business administration during his career.
Qin began his career in Guangxi, working for various state-owned enterprises, including Guangxi Liugong Construction Machinery Group, Guangxi Market Development Investment Group, and Guangxi Transportation Investment Group. He also served as the Deputy Director of the Guangxi State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, gaining extensive experience in managing state assets.
Having also served as the Deputy Mayor of Nanning, Qin moved to Anhui in 2020, where he advanced through the ranks as Deputy Secretary, Mayor, and Party Secretary of Huai Bei City. In 2024, he was appointed as Deputy Governor of Anhui, serving as Deputy Secretary and Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee before his recent appointment as Party Secretary of Hefei.
Notably, Hefei has recently emerged as a model for local governments, successfully utilizing its state-owned investment platform to venture into high-tech companies, known as the 'Hefei model.' This approach allows local governments to secure equity in companies and invest long-term to develop the entire high-tech industry ecosystem. Notable companies that have received investments from Hefei's platform include Changxin Memory Technology (CXMT), China's leading DRAM manufacturer, BOE, the largest display manufacturer in China, and electric vehicle company NIO.
Qin Weiguo's background in both state-owned enterprises and local government aligns with Hefei's policy direction, which emphasizes industrial investment and regional economic development.
With three changes in the Party Secretary position in Hefei over the past two and a half years, Qin faces the challenge of ensuring organizational stability and continuity in industrial policy.
This appointment positions Qin as a prominent figure among the next generation of leaders ahead of the 21st National Congress of the Communist Party of China next year.
Additionally, Qin has shown an active interest in international exchanges through sports. According to China Observer Network, during his tenure as Party Secretary of Huai Bei City, he attended a soccer match and participated in the ceremonial kickoff. In April 2024, he was also reported to have watched a soccer game with Baek Young-hyun, the mayor of Pocheon City in South Korea, further highlighting his engagement in sports diplomacy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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