Highlights Recap | Zhongli Group–Talesun Photovoltaic’s Top Ten News Stories of 2017

I. Wang Baixing, Chairman of Zhongli Group, was awarded the “Outstanding Contributor to China’s Energy‑Based Poverty Alleviation Initiative” prize.

On September 26, 2017, the inaugural China Energy Industry Poverty Alleviation Summit Forum, themed “Poverty Alleviation through Industrial Development, Jointly Striving for Moderate Prosperity,” was held in Beijing. Wang Baixing, Deputy Head of the National Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Task Force and Chairman of Zhongli Group, was uniquely honored with the “Outstanding Contributor to China’s Energy Industry Poverty Alleviation” award. Meanwhile, Zhongli Group’s pioneering “Photovoltaic Farm in Impoverished Villages” model for targeted poverty reduction also received the “Innovation in China’s Energy Industry Poverty Alleviation Model” award.

II. Wang Baixing, Chairman of Zhongli Group, was a guest on CCTV’s major poverty‑alleviation series program.

On November 16, 2017, the large-scale poverty‑alleviation program series “Never Left Behind,” sponsored by Zhongli Group, aired on CCTV‑12’s Social and Legal Channel. Wang Baixing, Chairman of Zhongli Group, appeared in the studio to share how the group has pioneered an innovative county‑wide poverty‑elimination model—“Photovoltaic Farms in Impoverished Villages”—to support targeted poverty reduction and help impoverished households turn their dreams into reality.

III. Wang Baixing, Chairman of Zhongli Group, was named the 2017 China Energy Innovation Entrepreneur.

On January 12, 2018, the Third China Energy Development and Innovation Forum, themed “New Era, New Momentum, New Leap,” was held in Beijing. During the event, enterprises and individuals who made outstanding contributions to China’s energy sector in 2017 were honored. Wang Baixing, Chairman of Zhongli Group, was named the “2017 China Energy Innovation Entrepreneur.” Chairman Wang has embraced an innovative, cross‑industry mindset, launching the three‑generation “Photovoltaic Farm” targeted poverty‑alleviation initiative. In 2015, he introduced the first generation—“Smart Photovoltaics + Tech‑Driven Agriculture”; in 2016, the second generation—“Photovoltaic Farms in Impoverished Villages”; and in 2017, the third generation—“Household Photovoltaic Farms” delivering poverty‑reduction benefits directly to individual households. Through these groundbreaking ideas, he has helped hundreds of thousands of people realize their dream of escaping poverty.

IV. Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli Conducts Field Inspection in Qinghai; First Stop: Zhongli, Qinghai

On November 23, 2017, as a flagship of Qinghai’s—and indeed the western region’s—optical communications industry, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of the State Council and his delegation made Qinghai Zhongli their first stop during an inspection tour. Wang Baixing, Chairman of Zhongli Group, together with leading officials from the provincial and municipal governments, welcomed Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and his entourage. They provided a detailed briefing on Zhongli Group’s efforts over the past few years to implement innovative “third-generation” photovoltaic farms for targeted poverty alleviation, as well as the nation’s only integrated model of “photovoltaics + agriculture + employment,” highlighting the achievements attained. These initiatives earned high praise from Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

V. Zhongli Group Responds to the Belt and Road Initiative by Promoting China–Arab Cooperation

On May 16, 2017, Zhongli Group–Talesun Photovoltaic attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. During the event, Argentine President Mauricio Macri met with Mr. Wang Baixing, Chairman of Zhongli Group. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on Talesun Photovoltaic’s 300-megawatt photovoltaic power project in Cochin, Jujuy Province, Argentina, as well as on future strategic cooperation.

VI. Zhongli Group was invited to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

On November 6, 2017, the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened in Bonn, Germany. Zhongli Group—Talesun Photovoltaic was invited to attend the UN climate change conference, leveraging renewable energy to support Africa’s power‑sector development.

VII. Zhongli Group ranks 49th among the Global Top 500 New Energy Enterprises.

On December 12, 2017, the highly anticipated “2017 Global Top 500 New Energy Companies” list was released. Thanks to its outstanding performance in the new energy sector, Zhongli Group once again made the list, ranking 49th—two places higher than last year—and its subsidiary, Talesun Photovoltaic, was awarded the “2017 Global Top 500 New Energy Company for Technological Innovation.”

VIII. Zhongli Group Honored as One of China’s Top Ten Innovative Models in Agriculture, Rural Areas, and Farmers

On February 25, 2017, the Top Ten Innovative Models in China’s Rural, Agricultural, and Farmer Sectors were officially announced. Zhongli Group was recognized as one of the “2016 Top Ten Innovative Models” for its pioneering “Smart Photovoltaics + Tech‑Driven Agriculture” approach—making it the only private‑sector project among this year’s honorees. Zhongli Group has consistently pursued innovative developments under the “PV Plus” framework. Over the past three years, it has launched a three‑generation series of photovoltaic farm–based poverty‑alleviation initiatives: the first generation, the “Smart Photovoltaics + Tech‑Driven Agriculture” project in 2015; the second generation, the “Photovoltaic Farm in Impoverished Villages” program in 2016; and the third generation, the “Household Photovoltaic Farm” initiative in 2017, bringing targeted poverty relief directly to individual households through solar energy.

IX. The Promotion Conference on the Lingbi Model of Poverty Alleviation through Photovoltaic Farms by Zhongli Group Opens in Anhui Province

On September 1, 2017, the inaugural China Photovoltaic Agriculture Precision Poverty Alleviation Development Forum was held in Lingbi County, Anhui Province. Hosted by CCTV‑7 and co-organized by the Lingbi County Party Committee and the Lingbi County People’s Government, with support from Zhongli Group, the forum featured a special address by Wang Baixing, Chairman of Zhongli Group, on industry‑driven, county‑wide poverty alleviation. Concurrently, a promotional event was held to showcase the Lingbi model of using photovoltaic farms to lift entire counties out of poverty. Leaders from dozens of impoverished counties signed cooperation agreements with Zhongli Group, aiming to comprehensively address the challenges of poverty eradication.

X. Zhongli Group Attends the 2017 Poverty Alleviation Day Forum on County-Level Development and Poverty Eradication

On October 10, 2017, the “2017 Poverty Alleviation Day Forum on County‑Level Development and Poverty Eradication,” hosted by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and organized by the China Association for Promoting Volunteer Service in Poverty Alleviation, was held in Beijing. The third‑generation photovoltaic farm–based targeted poverty‑alleviation project, innovatively launched by Zhongli Group, received specific praise and recognition from Liu Yongfu, Director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and President of the China Association for Promoting Volunteer Service in Poverty Alleviation. On that day, representatives from 13 impoverished counties signed “county‑wide poverty‑alleviation” agreements with Zhongli Group.