From being named Guoqing, which means National Day in Chinese, to a career marked by multiple transitions, finance professional Zhang Guoqing's life has closely mirrored the growth of China's financial industry.
For decades, Chinese parents across generations have named their children Guoqing as a tribute to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The name remains a popular choice for babies born on Oct 1.
Born on Oct 1, 1989, Zhang has worked in finance for over a decade. He said his birthday coincides with National Day, a coincidence that has always brought him joy.
Driven by a passion for finance, Zhang embarked on banking career after graduation.
"Do you know what interests me? Here are my business cards: they bear witness to the number of people I have met and the many negotiations I have taken part in. Back then, I chose to study economics, first because it was the program that required the highest admission scores. Moreover, the economy was booming at the time. I entered university in 2008, and after graduating in 2012, I joined the bank, where I began my career in finance," Zhang said.
While Xinfadi serves as a major fresh-produce wholesale market in Beijing and primarily supports the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in north China, it also shaped Zhang's career path.
According to Zhang, the market's main vendors were among his clients at the time. In 2019, he established a department dedicated to the market to support inclusive finance, rural vitalization, and agriculture.
Each year, the market returns part of its tax revenue and dividends to the city while creating local jobs, with the local employment rate now reaching 70 to 80 percent, Zhang noted.
As policy priorities evolved, Zhang embraced new opportunities and transitioned to a new track.
"I submitted my resignation toward the end of last year. The state has defined the 'Five Major Financial Articles' and has stressed the prevention of systemic financial risks. As the economy has shifted from rapid growth to high-quality development, I wanted to try my hand at another field," Zhang said.
"Currently, the insurance sector meets an urgent need of the state, and the sector itself is gradually becoming more standardized as it develops. As the country grows stronger, opportunities across the whole sector are broadening. In the past, it was about going from zero to one; now it's about going from one to two, and from two to four. The scope has widened, but opportunities are no longer so easy to come by. I am ready to take on this challenge and embrace this opportunity," he said.
From banking to Xinfadi and insurance, every career move Zhang has made kept pace with China's development, and his presence at the National Day ceremony is a fitting testament to that bond.
"I, Zhang Guoqing, go to Tiananmen Square on National Day to attend the ceremony. I will certainly come back," he said.
Named after National Day, finance professional's career mirrors China's industry growth
