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Rural areas and agriculture are overflowing with opportunities for young people, according to Zhao Zhao, a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and general manager of Nanyang Yamin Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd.
Speaking during a group interview at the third session of the 14th NPC on Tuesday, Zhao shared her inspiring journey from urban life back to her roots in the countryside.
Born in 1984, Zhao left her city job in 2008 to return to her hometown in Nanyang City, central China. She began with just 50 cattle, and today, her company manages a herd of over 4,000.
“This decision wasn’t made impulsively,” Zhao explained. “I was struck by the stark contrast between urban and rural areas during my travels between the city and my hometown.”
Zhao believes that the mission of her generation of college-educated youth is not to abandon underdeveloped hometowns but to return and transform them. “Rural areas and agriculture are in dire need of young talent,” she emphasized.
Reflecting on her personal journey—from remote mountains to the Great Hall of the People—Zhao expressed her commitment to making the countryside a beautiful homeland, turning agriculture into a thriving industry, and elevating farming into an attractive and respected profession.
“These are the most sincere goals of my duties,” she added.
