Zhao Zhao, a deputy to China's National People's Congress (NPC) and founder of Nanyang Yamin Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., has become a leading voice in advocating for youth engagement in rural revitalization. During this week's NPC session, Zhao highlighted the untapped potential of China's countryside, drawing from her own journey of transforming 50 cattle into a 4,000-head operation over 16 years.
"Rural areas aren't relics of the past – they're canvases for innovation," Zhao told delegates, recalling her 2008 decision to leave urban employment in favor of entrepreneurship in her Nanyang hometown. The 1984-born executive emphasized that reversing urban migration trends requires creating sustainable opportunities: "Our mission isn't to abandon underdeveloped regions, but to rebuild them with modern expertise."
Her remarks come as China prioritizes agricultural modernization and rural infrastructure upgrades. Zhao's success story – from managing cattle breeds in mountainous terrain to advising national policymakers at Beijing's Great Hall of the People – exemplifies the Communist Party of China's push for talent retention in vital sectors.
"Agriculture needs to become aspirational," Zhao stressed, outlining three key objectives: developing ecologically sound rural communities, establishing tech-integrated farming systems, and professionalizing agricultural work. Analysts suggest such grassroots narratives align with broader efforts to balance regional development and food security ahead of China's 2035 modernization targets.
