Tu Hongyan, chairman of Wensli Group, one of China's largest silk-producing companies in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Innovation has been crucial to the success of Zhejiang businesses during the 40 years of reform and opening up, said Tu Hongyan, chairman of Wensli Group, one of China's largest silk-producing companies based in Hangzhou, known as the capital of silk production in Zhejiang province.

Born into a family of generations of silkworm raisers in Hangzhou, Tu took on the baton of the silk company from her mother Shen Aiqin, who started her own career from scratch in 1975 by purchasing old machines from State-owned enterprises and 22 leading local farmers to found a silk company in her hometown.

In the years of the planned economy, the businesswoman made great efforts to introduce foreign advanced technologies and equipment and managed to turn the company into a giant with several billion dollars' worth of assets over the past four decades.

"It is my mother's pioneering spirit, wisdom and unrelenting perseverance that has always inspired me," Tu said, who aims to make Wensli a leading brand in China.

"I am fortunate that I have witnessed the great era and grateful for the opportunities to change our destiny and the world as a whole," said Tu.