In China's rapidly transforming chemical sector, where traditional manufacturing meets digitalization and sustainability, Ji Mingyuan stands out as a new-generation entrepreneur who blends industrial ambition with unwavering integrity and deep-rooted social responsibility. As General Manager of Shuangliao Haohua Chemical Co., Ltd. , Ji has not only revived a dormant industrial asset but has also built Jilin Province's first intelligent chlor-alkali production base—a benchmark for green manufacturing, technological excellence, and trustworthy business conduct.
From Shanghai to Shuangliao: A Homecoming Driven by Mission
Born in April 1982 in Jilin Province, Ji Mingyuan graduated from university in 2006 and embarked on a successful career in Shanghai. A decade later, in 2016, news from home changed his trajectory. The former Siping Haohua Chemical Co., Ltd.—a subsidiary of China National Chemical Corporation—had been forced to shut down and relocate out of the urban centre. With no local entity willing to take on the costly transition, the production capacity was at risk of leaving the province.
"For me, Siping is not only my hometown but also the place that nurtured my family for generations. Returning home and creating value here is the best way to realize my personal ambitions," Ji reflects.
Driven by attachment to his roots and a sense of industrial mission, Ji returned to Jilin and founded Shuangliao Haohua Chemical Co., Ltd. on June 16, 2016, in the Chemical Industrial Park of the Jilin Shuangliao Economic Development Zone. The company now operates a 154,548 m² manufacturing campus anchored by an advanced ion-exchange membrane caustic soda unit and an integrated chlor-alkali circular-economy system.
Technological Innovation: Building a Smart and Green Chemical Enterprise
Ji Mingyuan firmly believes that technological innovation is the key to upgrading traditional chemical industries. Under his leadership, Shuangliao Haohua has embraced a development path centered on green manufacturing, intelligent production, and advanced process technology.
Construction and Milestones
Construction of the 200,000-tonne-per-year ion-exchange membrane caustic soda relocation project began in September 2017. The plant adopted cutting-edge bipolar natural-circulation zero-gap electrolyzer technology and a fully digital, visualized, and integrated intelligent-factory control system. After four years of dedicated effort, Phase I achieved a successful trial run on November 17, 2021—a milestone that established Shuangliao Haohua as Jilin Province's largest basic chemical raw-material production base and its first intelligent chlor-alkali facility.
Technical Breakthroughs and Efficiency Gains
Ji established a professional R&D team of more than 50 engineers and technicians, who focused on improving core ion-membrane electrolyzer technology in three key areas: lower electricity consumption, higher resistance to impurities, and higher concentration production capability.
By replacing traditional asbestos-diaphragm processes with modern ion-exchange membrane technology, the company reduced energy consumption by 15–20% and eliminated asbestos-related environmental and health risks. A circular system built around chlorine, hydrogen, and alkali balances enables 100% comprehensive utilization of hydrogen chloride resources.
Intellectual Property and Recognitions
The company's technological achievements have been recognized with three national invention patents. Shuangliao Haohua has also obtained the Food Production License and National Industrial Product Production License, and has been certified as:
A National High-Tech Enterprise;
A Jilin Provincial "Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative" Enterprise;
A provincial-level digital workshop;
A model enterprise for green chemical manufacturing.
Integrity as the Invisible Safety Net
For Ji Mingyuan, technological excellence alone is insufficient. The "catalyst" that binds everything together, he insists, is integrity—which he describes as the indispensable core element in the "chemical reaction" of enterprise survival and growth.
"In our industry, the precision of mixing ratios and the rigour of process control are like the chemical reactions that keep a plant alive. Integrity is the invisible safety net that underpins every reaction—with customers, with regulators, and with employees," Ji explains.
This philosophy has been tested repeatedly:
During price wars, Ji held the line on consistent product purity, retaining long-term clients through reliability rather than discounting.
When environmental and safety policies tightened, he proactively invested in advanced monitoring and waste-treatment systems, staying ahead of compliance curves and winning first-mover advantages.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, transparent communication with suppliers and buyers—and the trust capital accumulated over years—allowed the company to secure critical raw materials and fulfil orders while many rivals stalled.
"Trust is built in small doses over a long time, but it can be lost in a single shipment. We treat every kilogram of caustic soda and every litre of hydrochloric acid as a promise. That 'slow effort' has forged our 'hard power'," Ji emphasises.
A Legislator's Broader Vision
As a deputy to the Jilin Provincial People's Congress, a member of its Economic Committee (appointed in July 2025), and a member of the Standing Committee of the 9th Siping Municipal People's Congress, Ji actively participates in legislative and consultative work. He has submitted proposals on:
High-quality development of the basic chemical industry;
Improving the quality and efficiency of county-level industry;
Artificial-intelligence training and digital-talent cultivation;
"Elements follow projects" mechanisms to secure land, energy, and environmental capacity for critical industrial investments;
Green-power integration, advocating a "green electricity + consumption" model paired with renewable energy.
At the January 2026 session of the Provincial People's Congress, Ji championed a Changchun-Siping industrial synergy initiative, proposing that Siping's chemical strengths directly support Changchun's automotive and high-end equipment sectors. "Chlor-alkali products like caustic soda, PVC, and liquid chlorine are essential for car interiors, corrosion-resistant coatings, and battery auxiliaries. We should establish long-term direct-supply agreements and create a 'Changchun assembles, Siping supplies' model," he argued.
Social Responsibility: Beyond the Plant Gate
Ji Mingyuan's commitment to integrity extends well beyond commercial transactions. During the pandemic, he personally donated protective supplies to frontline healthcare workers and daily necessities to quarantined residents, while simultaneously organizing the factory's epidemic-control protocols to maintain uninterrupted production.
Under his leadership, Shuangliao Haohua has donated more than RMB 700,000 to public welfare initiatives. The company also participates in poverty-alleviation campaigns and sponsors vocational training for rural youth, reinforcing the idea that integrity is also a social bond.
For his achievements, Ji has received numerous honors, including:
Siping Outstanding Municipal People's Congress Representative;
Siping May 1st Labor Medal;
Jilin Province May 1st Labor Medal;
Recognition as an Outstanding Private Entrepreneur of Jilin Province (2025).
The Road Ahead: Towards a ¥10-Billion Industrial Park
Looking forward, Ji has set an ambitious target: within three years, drive the entire Shuangliao Chemical Industrial Park to RMB 10 billion in annual output value. This will be achieved through:
Deepening comprehensive utilization of chlorine, hydrogen, alkali, and hydrogen chloride resources;
Expanding into high-value-added chemical new materials and advanced flame-retardant polymers;
Advancing green and intelligent upgrading of the company's operations.
The company's "Double 100 Project" —involving an investment of approximately RMB 4 billion to build 1 million-tonne/year food-grade high-purity hydrochloric acid and 1 million-tonne/year polyaluminium chloride facilities—is expected to generate additional annual output value of RMB 2 billion and tax contributions of RMB 300 million upon completion.
"I am confident in developing the enterprise, extending the industrial chain, strengthening cooperation with downstream partners, and creating a new benchmark for Jilin's basic chemical industry," Ji affirms.
A Model for Revitalising Old Industrial Bases
Ji Mingyuan's journey—from Shanghai executive to hometown industrialist—mirrors the broader transformation of northeast China's rustbelt. Where many see decline, he sees latent assets: a skilled workforce, existing infrastructure, and a captive regional market. Where others fear risk, he sees opportunity anchored by integrity and propelled by innovation.
Through a combination of technical excellence, unwavering integrity, and dedicated public service, Ji Mingyuan has not only rebuilt a vital industrial capability for Jilin but has also demonstrated how a returning entrepreneur can link personal achievement with regional revitalization and sustainable industrial development.
"Chemistry is about combining elements to create something new and valuable. Business is the same. You need the right elements—capital, technology, people—but without the right catalyst, you get nothing. Integrity is that catalyst."
— Ji Mingyuan