At the 2025 China Entrepreneurs Influence Annual Conference, Ye Guofu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of MINISO Group Holding Limited, emphasized the dual-track advancement of China's technology and culture sectors.
When discussing national rejuvenation, Ye stressed the pivotal role of culture. Citing the animated film "Ne Zha" which grossed 15.9 billion yuan at the box office, with director Yang Yu (Jiaozi) earning 1.974 billion yuan in royalties, he noted how technology has created numerous fortunes. "The next wave of wealth creation will emerge from cultural industries," Ye predicted.
He shared a recent acquisition case: MINISO purchased an original artwork created by a post-2000s female artist who gained traction on Xiaohongshu (a Chinese lifestyle platform). The multimillion-yuan deal exemplifies how cultural IPs can generate substantial value while inspiring younger generations through role models.
"China's rise as a tech powerhouse stems from our robust higher education system cultivating STEM talent. Similarly, we now have exceptional art schools and creative talents in cultural fields," Ye observed. "What's missing are platforms – and that's where MINISO steps in."
The retail giant provides a commercialization channel where original artworks, characters, or IPs can potentially create tens or hundreds of millions in value. "Countless art graduates could build careers this way," Ye added, challenging conventional wisdom: "We must stop exclusively steering children toward STEM fields. Mastering fine arts or creative disciplines promises equally bright futures."
The remarks were made during an unscripted session at the conference.
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