The robust Pingliang Red Cattle stand as a testament to the transformation in Jingning County. On a chilly winter morning in Yangzui Village, Ganggou Town, Jingning County, resident Qiang Shiping stepped out of his courtyard to find newly paved roads stretching seamlessly through the neighborhood. "In the past, rain would turn the paths into mud pits," he remarked. "Now, cars can drive right to our doors, and streetlights brighten our nights."
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Beijing, this small northwestern county gained international recognition. On December 10, 2025, at the Global Poverty Reduction Partnership Symposium, China Galaxy Securities' (CGS) initiative to boost Jingning's apple industry was honored as a "Global Best Poverty Reduction Case" among 840 submissions worldwide—the only securities industry project selected.
How did this western county's experience gain global attention? The answer lies in Jingning's fields, the growing prosperity of its residents, and villages like Yangzui that have undergone remarkable transformations. Once a deeply impoverished area with poor infrastructure and weak industries, Yangzui's turnaround began in 2012 when China Investment Corporation and its subsidiary CGS launched targeted poverty alleviation efforts in Jingning. Their approach combined substantial investment with long-term, locally adapted strategies.
The changes are visible everywhere: four new bridges span ravines, 136 smart solar streetlights illuminate roads, and 100% of village pathways have been paved. Traditional adobe houses have been replaced by bright brick homes. The village now boasts 13 standardized drying yards and a 5,000-square-meter cattle farming complex, where Pingliang Red Cattle have become true "golden cows" boosting incomes.
"With the village's facelift came renewed energy among residents," said Jia Lili, the village Party secretary. Statistics reflect this uplift—per capita net income surged from ¥6,850 in 2018 to ¥16,130 today.
Infrastructure improvements awakened dormant resources, while industrial development provided sustainable growth momentum. Yangzui's story is no exception. Over the past decade, CGS has invested over ¥40 million in Ganggou Town, constructing 22.45 km of industrial roads, paving 17.3 km of village roads, planting 6,000 trees along green corridors, and upgrading sanitation facilities in 405 households.
CGS's footprint extends across all 24 townships of Jingning. In Jieshipu Town, their Hong Kong/Macau Ecological Pasture project became a model for rural revitalization. The global recognition stems from Jingning apples' value-added journey. Since beginning assistance, CGS has invested and attracted ¥700 million, going beyond financial support to enable deep industrial transformation:
- Establishing the region's first apple futures delivery warehouse, making Jingning the pricing benchmark for northwestern apples - Implementing an eight-year "insurance + futures" program protecting nearly 110,000 orchard households with ¥198 million in payouts - Securing national agricultural brand recognition and EU geographical indication status for "Jingning Apples," now valued at ¥18.086 billion—ranking second nationally
From cultivation to sales, risk mitigation to value enhancement, this complete industrial upgrade chain has realized "county prosperity through industry, farmer enrichment through brands." Today, Jingning boasts 20 model villages like Yangzui. According to Liu Guoqiang, CGS's appointed deputy director at Jingning's Agriculture Bureau, the company recently committed another ¥40+ million for additional road projects, village upgrades, and strengthening specialty industries including cattle, apples, and vegetables.
Through "village-enterprise co-development" models, residents have transformed from passive observers to active participants in rural revitalization—maintaining environments, learning technologies, and joining cooperatives. This internal drive represents the most valuable outcome of assistance efforts.
From isolated poverty-stricken hamlets to revitalization exemplars, from subsistence farming to diversified industries featuring premium cattle and fragrant apples—Jingning's decade-long partnership with CGS has written a vivid chapter of collaborative development on the Loess Plateau.
Shang Chao, CGS-appointed Jingning County Standing Committee member, stated that during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period, focus will remain on industrial upgrading and livelihood improvements, with increased investment in local specialty sectors to enhance county-level economic quality. Simultaneously, CGS will continue supporting urban-rural infrastructure and public services, fulfilling social responsibilities to inject sustained momentum into Jingning's high-quality development.