Hu Pengfei (third from left). [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

Editor's note: the sixth World Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Convention was held in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on Dec 23 to 24.

Over the four decades since China began carrying out reform and opening up in 1978, over 8 million entrepreneurs from Zhejiang have expanded their businesses across China and the world. This series will share their stories.

Hu Pengfei, a native of Wenzhou in East China's Zhejiang province, currently serves as honorary president of the Wenzhou Chamber of Commerce in Hungary, chairman of the Hungarian Wenzhou Mall and chairman of Wenzhou Aohuate Shoes Industry Co Ltd.

Starting as an apprentice at the age of 20, Hu now owns a more than 16,000-square-meter Wenzhou Mall in Hungary.

Before departing for Hungary in 1991, Hu was already a well-known local hardware entrepreneur. By going to Hungary, he hoped to expand his business worldwide.

In 2005, his factory was transformed into the Wenzhou Mall, which is aimed at accommodating Wenzhou and other Chinese businesses and facilitating their trade cooperation.

In early 2020, he retuned to Wenzhou. During the COVID-19 outbreak, his firm, along with overseas partners, donated masks and other medical supplies to locals. Now he is devoted to developing his business in Wenzhou.