Huayou Holding Group 2026 Mid-Year Work Conference Opened in Suzhou on July 28. The conference objectively reviewed first-half performance, conducted an in-depth analysis of the current landscape, and made systematic deployments for key second-half tasks. It called upon all cadres and employees to stay confident, confront challenges head-on, unite as one, rise to difficulties, and remain unwavering in fulfilling the annual targets. Mr. Chen Xuehua, Chairman of Huayou Holding Group, attended the conference and delivered a keynote speech titled “Confront Challenges Head-On and Rise to Difficulties, Striving for Outstanding Results to Secure a Strong Start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.” The conference was presided over by Mr. Xie Guoping, Vice Chairman and Vice President of Huayou Cobalt.

    “The road ahead is one we must pave with our own feet.” After a thorough analysis of the existing problems and challenges facing the Group, Chairman Chen Xuehua proactively identified the key focal areas for future-oriented competition. The 15th Five-Year Plan period represents a critical five-year window for China to accelerate the development of a new energy system and build itself into an energy powerhouse. As an energy materials enterprise, serving the national strategy of building an energy powerhouse is our bounden duty and represents our greatest development opportunity and source of value creation. The deepening advancement of the new energy system will consolidate the growth foundation of our core lithium battery materials business. Meanwhile, the accelerated cultivation of new quality productive forces will open up development space for our two growth poles—energy metals and energy materials. From the perspective of national strategic direction, this is highly aligned with Huayou’s development strategy of “taking the lithium battery materials business as the core, with energy metals and energy materials as the new growth poles.” Therefore, we must further strengthen our confidence across four dimensions—confidence in the industry, in our enterprise, in our teams, and in our theoretical framework. We must cultivate a keen awareness of both opportunities and risks. We must be adept at capturing opportunities as they emerge from shifting circumstances, identifying them from industry trends, and leveraging them through the implementation of national strategies. We must also enhance our ability to seize opportunities, respond to challenges, and adapt to market changes. By seizing the right moment and taking proactive action amid changing circumstances, we will march forward with confidence and vigor toward the future.

“The more difficult the times, the more we must maintain our resolve; the greater the pressure, the tighter we must clench our teeth.” Regarding the systematic levers for overcoming difficulties in the second half, Chairman Chen Xuehua emphasized the “Three Unswerving Commitments”:

   Safety is the 1, and everything else is the 0; without safety, everything amounts to nothing. We must grasp intrinsic safety as the fundamental principle, firmly uphold the philosophy that “safety and environmental protection are above all else,” and continuously address shortcomings, strengthen weaknesses, and consolidate foundations. We must deepen ESG governance to mitigate various potential risks arising from the transformation process at the governance level. We must fortify the defense line of compliant operations, treat operational security as the bedrock of enterprise security, and continuously enhance our global compliance capabilities and risk response capacities.

    Innovation is not merely a development issue for Huayou; it is a matter of survival. We must drive product and cost leadership through technological leadership, continuously tackling core challenges, addressing weaknesses, and sharpening our competitive edge. We must embed innovation capabilities within the organization to reinforce our competitive confidence for industrial upgrading at a systemic level. We must also advance the integrated development of the “four chains”—the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain. This will enable us to build an innovation hub for the efficient transformation of R&D achievements, attract technology-leading talent across all links of the industrial chain, develop a globally competitive integrated industrial system, and establish a funding support system with industry-leading R&D intensity.

Openness is an inherent gene of Huayou and the only path to continuous growth and expansion. We must seize the key of global expansion, firmly uphold the philosophy of “collaborative partnership for a win-win future,” and continuously expand our footprint, pool resources, and strengthen our competitive barriers. We must deeply integrate into global markets and address various potential risks in overseas operations at the strategic level. We must actively participate in the formulation of international standards and industry rules, and enhance our voice and influence in leading global industry development.

“All great achievements are the result of sustained endeavors, and all great undertakings must be advanced by building on the past and forging ahead into the future.” The conference calls upon every Huayou cadre to charge forward with the spirit of “knowing there are tigers in the mountains, yet heading toward the mountains,” dare to confront difficulties and conflicts, respond effectively to every risk and challenge, and demonstrate a sense of responsibility and commitment in Huayou’s transformation and development. All Huayou members are called upon to hold high the Huayou Spirit of “Constantly Strive to Become Stronger and Pursue Excellence,” confront challenges head-on, rise to difficulties, seize every moment and every opportunity with a fighting stance, continuously consolidate the foundation of stability, unleash the driving force of progress, and expand the fruits of victory. Let us strive for outstanding results to secure a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan and jointly forge a new paradigm of Huayou’s high-quality development. The “535” strategic goals must be achieved and will surely be achieved!