Liu Yongxing (Chinese: 刘永行, born June 1948)[1] is a Chinese businessman. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of East Hope Group, a Chinese company active in the agribusiness as well as chemical and non-ferrous metal industries. He is the honorary president of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce in Sichuan, a part-time professor at China Agricultural University, MBA lecturer, and a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC.[2]

Liu Yongxing
Born1948
Sichuan, China
NationalityChinese
Alma materXihua University
Occupation(s)Chairman and CEO, East Hope Group
ChildrenLiu Shawn
RelativesLiu Yonghao (brother)
Liu Yongyan (brother)
Chen Yuxin (brother)
Liu Yonghong(sister)

Personal life edit

Liu Yongxing was born in Sichuan, China, and has three brothers, Liu Yongyan (刘永言), Chen Yuxin (陈育新) and Liu Yonghao (刘永好),[3] as well as one sister, Liu Yonghong (刘永红).[4] They started out as farm workers in low social standing due to their family background as wealthy landlords before the Cultural Revolution.[3][5]

He graduated from Xihua University in 1968.[6]

Liu's wife is a psychologist by training, with whom he has one child.[7][8] He resides in Shanghai.[8]

Career edit

In the late 1970s, Liu Yongxing and his brothers founded an electronics company that had to close soon after, as such business ventures were regarded as “too capitalistic” at the time.[5]

In 1982, Liu YongXing and his three brothers, accumulated 1,000 RMB and started a company called the “Hope Group.” The business consisted of raising quail and hatching chickens in the Sichuan Province.[citation needed] They also established the Hope Research Center for animal feeds in 1986.[1][6]

In 1995,[9] Hope Group was split up into four separate companies among the siblings: West Hope Group (Chen Yuxin), New Hope Group (Liu Yonghai) and Continental Hope Group (Liu Yongyan).[10] Liu Yongxing retained parts of the agricultural business and got involved in the heavy chemical and aluminium industry, which ultimately led to the founding of today’s East Hope Group in 1995, one of the largest aluminium producers worldwide.[11]

In 1999, Liu Yongxing relocated his East Hope HQ to Shanghai, China.[9]

In 2002, Liu Yongxing started his business in the Aluminum industry.[9]

In August 2016, Chinese news site Sohu published a profile covering Liu Yongxing and his approach to conducting business.[12] Concerning criticism about environmental pollution caused by East Hope factories, the article quotes Liu as saying that “in the heavy chemical industry, environmental issues are a common risk, so I do everything in accordance with the most stringent standards.”[12][13] Nevertheless, East Hope Group has been penalized multiple times for violating environmental regulations that included fines, forced production cuts and technical upgrades. For example, punishments were handed out in 2014, 2015 and 2016 for exceeding SO2, NOx and dust emission caps of the Group’s plants in Shandong, Xinjiang, Henan and Inner Mongolia.[14][15][16]

In 2015, East Hope's Baotou plant received 4.2 billion yuan in funds to incentivize upgrading its environmental protection facilities,[17] while at the same time, a new kiln for solid waste disposal at one of the company's cement factories was regarded as innovative by Chinese authorities, according to East Hope sources.[18]

On 15 December 2016, two people were killed when a red mud reservoir at East Hope’s Sanmenxia plant failed.[19] Four months prior to the accident, amid another red mud spill incident in the province, the local government conducted safety inspections at East Hope facilities and approved their full compliance with the standards.[19] Thus far, there are no reports that the company has faced repercussions for the accident.

Awards and honors edit

In 2002, Liu Yongxing was rewarded with the “2001 CCTV Top 10 China’s Economic Leaders” award, as well as with the “Sohu 2001 Top 10 Financial Leaders” award.[20]

Wealth edit

Liu Yongxing is regarded among the richest people in China. He was ranked #18 on Forbes’ China Rich List with a net worth of $6.6 billion,[21] which also makes him the richest Shanghai resident.[22] Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index ranked him at #93 globally with $12.3 billion.[23] His brothers are also billionaires and owners of their own companies.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Vitae, China. "China Vitae : Biography of Liu Yongxing". www.chinavitae.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. ^ "四川富豪刘永行的人生经历". ifeng.com. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "The 1980s: legend of wealth -- china.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  4. ^ "刘永好五兄妹首度发声:忆三十年创业路". finance.sina.com.cn. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b Barboza, David (1 January 2009). "Contradictions in China's Economy and the Rise of a Family". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b "东方希望集团董事长刘永行 — 华商名人堂 — 刘永行简介". www.hsmrt.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  7. ^ "刘永行太太为何脱产20年学习心理学?探究东方希望的安全文化". www.59490.com (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Liu Yongxing". Forbes. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  9. ^ a b c Yongxing Liu. "Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Yongxing Liu". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  10. ^ "The 1980s: legend of wealth -- china.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  11. ^ "China Eats So Much Pork These Feed Producers Became Billionaires". Bloomberg.com. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  12. ^ a b "刘永行:一个"另类"的中国首富-搜狐财经". business.sohu.com. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  13. ^ "东方希望:循环经济理念的践行者 - 新闻快讯 - 中国网•东海资讯". Jiangsu.china.com.cn. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  14. ^ "环境保护部组织开展APEC会议空气环境质量保障督查".
  15. ^ http://www.dezhou.gov.cn/n19466299/n19789916/n19789964/n19790088/n19790326/n19790328/n19790344/c25185140/content.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ^ "德州市2015年4月大气污染物新标准执行情况汇总表".
  17. ^ "包头希望铝业获420万元环保财政奖励 - 北极星环保网". Huanbao.bjx.com.cn. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  18. ^ "东方希望重庆水泥窑处理固废项目获批-环保-能源资讯-国际能源网". In-en.com. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  19. ^ a b 网易. "三门峡渑池发生局部意外滑坡 已致2人被埋死亡 - 网易河南". henan.163.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  20. ^ "Liu Yongxing-Entrepreneur- CHINESE WHO'S WHO". Chinesewhoswho.org. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Liu Yongxing". Forbes. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  22. ^ Salchert, Ryan. "Where The Wealthiest Live: Cities With The Most Billionaires". Forbes. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Yongxing Liu". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.