In the 1990s, Chen Liangyong's career took off at the subsidiary of China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation in Harbin after he graduated from Harbin University of Science and Technology. His relentless work ethic propelled him from a junior position to a company executive in just five years. He was sent to work in countries such as Canada and Indonesia, where he gained invaluable experience in international trade.

However, an international trade fair Chen attended fundamentally changed the course of his life.

 At the fair, he witnessed a stark contrast that prompted him to make a silent resolve to craft precision tools made in China and make them a hallmark of quality and innovation.

"The booths for German and Japanese cutting tools were swarming with buyers, while the Chinese booths remained quiet and unattended," Chen said. "At that moment, I said to myself that we must develop our own precision cutting tools.”

Chen left his job at the State-owned organization in 2002, driven by a vision to craft world-class precision tools made in China. Teaming up with three professors from Harbin Institute of Technology, he embarked on the challenging task of developing long-and-thin carbide insert cutting tools.

The conditions were harsh. In a cold and drafty makeshift workshop, Chen and his team worked tirelessly. Their goal was clear — to solve the problem of tool welding deformation and ensure that "Made in China" products would one day attract long queues of international buyers.

After a year of relentless experimentation and sleepless nights, the efforts bore fruit. The birth of Hanlin cutting tools marked a significant milestone, filling a gap in the domestic market.

Two years later, Hanlin products were exported to over 50 countries, generating over $5 million in revenue. In 2005, the company expanded to a new 6,000-square-meter facility in the Harbin Economic and Technological Development Zone. In 2009, Hanlin secured a key project from the Ministry of Science and Technology, and broke Japan's monopoly in high-end woodcutting technology. China thus became the second country to master multi-composite metal tool technology — a leap from following to leading the sector.

Today, more than 500 computer numerical control machines and robotic arms operate at high speed in Hanlin Technology's workshops, where over 300 staff work in an orderly manner. For Chen, technological advancement is endless and the needs of the nation are always his guiding compass.

In recent years, as China's strategy of military-civilian integration gained momentum, Chen seized the opportunity to transition from civilian to military products.

Despite the unprecedented challenges and significant investment in research and development, Chen did not hesitate: "This is not business — it is a mission!”

With this spirit of perseverance, Hanlin Technology became a supplier to several central State-owned enterprises, proving that private companies can also shoulder the responsibility of developing "national strategic equipment" with independent and controllable technologies.

Chen Liangyong studies tool designs in his office. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

In 2023, Chen was elected a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). This new role brought him a profound sense of responsibility — not only to further develop his enterprise, but also to become a tireless advocate for the development of the private economy and talent retention in Northeast China.

Drawing from over two decades of entrepreneurial experience and in-depth surveys, Chen proposed his suggestions at the annual NPC sessions on some prominent issues — such as establishing a talent exchange platform for private enterprises and simplifying the professional titles evaluation system.

To address the frequent challenges faced by private companies, he championed streamlined government services that ensure policy benefits reach businesses directly.

"Having grown up in the fertile black soil of Northeast China, I deeply understand its nurturing richness and unfulfilled potential," Chen said.

As he plans to invest more in research and development, Chen is determined to propel more "Made in Heilongjiang" innovations onto the global stage.

As an NPC deputy, Chen remains committed to his mission to let more "Heilongjiang wisdom" serve national strategies and to enable more private enterprises to realize their value through high-quality development.