Hunan now a hotbed for innovation, trade

"The past 10 years were a key period for the company to achieve high-quality development. Continued innovation is the key for its great leap forward," said Zhou Qinghe, chairman of CRRC Zhuzhou, adding that the company has applied for 2,261 patents in the past decade.

Zhang Qingwei, Party secretary of the province, said that Hunan will optimize its innovation methods, increase fundamental studies and attract international talent to make breakthroughs in core technology.

He noted that Hunan is striving to become an important engine for high-quality development in the central region and for the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

In June, the KHL Group, the leading global supplier of international construction information, released its latest ranking of the world's 50 largest construction equipment manufacturers.

The list included Sany Group, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology, Sunward Intelligent Equipment Group, and China Railway Construction Heavy Industry, all of which are located in Hunan.

Changsha, the provincial capital, has become the world's third-largest hub for engineering machinery companies, surpassed only by Illinois in the United States and Tokyo.