Editor's note: East China's Zhejiang province is renowned for its large international population. Aloft on the wings of China's reform and opening-up policy, a group of Zhejiang people have gone abroad to make a living since the 1970s. As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the policy, the Zhejiang website (www.ezhejiang.gov.cn) is launching a series of stories about overseas Chinese who are originally from Zhejiang, as well as those who are active in the province's development. Stories courtesy of Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Zheshang Magazine

Xu Xuchang, chairman of Ningbo Chamber of Overseas Chinese Businessmen [Photo/Zheshang Magazine]

Real estate, education, industrial parks, hotels, healthcare … Xu Xuchang's company has been involved in many businesses in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.

"I am the third generation of 'Ningbo Bang' (a group of businessmen who were born in Ningbo but moved and lived out of the city) and have been deeply impressed by older generations' love for their country and hometown," said the chairman of Ningbo Chamber of Overseas Chinese Businessmen.

Born in 1973 in Ningbo, five years ahead of the launch of China's reform and opening-up policy, Xu grew together with the country and witnessed the changes that have taken place over recent decades with deep feelings.

In 1995, Xu moved to Hong Kong with his sister to reunite with their parents. One year later, he went to the University of Hawaii to do a master's degree in business administration.

At the beginning of 1998, Xu founded Huaxin Group in Hong Kong, starting his career as a company leader.

He was intensely aware of China's great achievements since reform and opening-up and proposed investing in the Chinese mainland at a meeting of the group's board of directors in October 1998. One year later, Xu started on his journey to Ningbo with HK$50 million ($6.4 million).

Nowadays, Xu's businesses in the Zhejiang city are expanding and the Ningbo Chamber of Overseas Chinese Businessmen led by him is exerting greater influence on the local economy. He has invested over 3 billion yuan in projects based in Ningbo.

Xu has been making great efforts in Ningbo's charitable affairs with the main focus on education. So far, he has donated more than 13 million yuan to the city's charity sector.

Looking to the future, Xu said he might retire at the age of 45, and after that will establish a charity foundation with one-third of his assets. "I'll never retire from my charity career," he said.