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.

In 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.

Cao Haihua, a native of Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang province, currently serves as executive president of the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce in Xinjiang and chairman of Xinjiang Zheshang Investment Holding Co Ltd.

In the early 1990s, Cao was an official dispatched by the government of Huzhou to Urumchi, Xinjiang. He then resigned and started a business. At first, his business was mainly about purchasing raw materials for Zhejiang firms in Central Asia.

It wasn't until years later that Cao set up a factory to process metals, building materials and packing materials. In 2010, he began dabbling in agriculture and tourism.

Seeing the poor working conditions of Zhejiang businesses in Xinjiang, Cao's firm decided to built a 67-hectare Industrial Park for Zhejiang Small and Medium-sized Businesses.

The park is now home to more than 100 firms involved in machine processing and electric appliance manufacturing.

Cao Haihua, executive president of the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce in Xinjiang and chairman of Xinjiang Zheshang Investment Holding Co Ltd. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]