The first 2025 symposium of the Hubei Development Think Tank, titled "The Development of Hubei's Ice and Snow Economy," was held at Wuhan Sports University (WHSU) on the afternoon of March 7. At the conference, government leaders, experts, scholars, industry professionals, and corporate representatives exchanged insights on the advantages of snow and ice resources and industrial integration in Hubei. Among those present at the conference were Ren Hongguo, President of the Chinese Figure Skating Association; Liu Weiqiao, Vice President of the Hubei Provincial Federation of Social Science Circles; Luo Qiyi, Vice Head of the Hubei Administration of Sport; Lyu Wangang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of WHSU; Liu Yanbo, member of the Standing Committee of Party Committee and Vice President of WHSU, and others.

Ren Hongguo opened the event by stating that the ice and snow economy is crucial for the development of winter sports worldwide and a new engine for promoting high-quality regional economic development. By adopting the "Ice and Snow +" model, Hubei is fostering deep integration between winter sports and multiple sectors such as cultural tourism, education, health, and technology, which in turn aids in expanding the industry chain of ice and snow equipment manufacturing, tourism, and event management, thus providing strong support for the high-quality development of ice and snow economy. Higher education institutions like WHSU have also been instrumental in talent development, technological innovation, and event promotion for winter sports, advancing the popularization and specialization of winter sports and supplying the industry with skilled professionals to help elevate Hubei's ice and snow economy. Ren expressed his desire for this symposium to be a chance to gather insights from all stakeholders and build consensus across various sectors, working together to enhance the high-quality development of Hubei's ice and snow economy and make a greater contribution to the flourishing of winter sports in China.

Liu Weiqiao delivered a welcome speech, stressing that the ice and snow economy is becoming a new driver for regional economic growth. As a key platform for social science research and think tank building in Hubei, the Hubei Provincial Federation of Social Science Circles continuously engages with major issues in economic and social development, striving to enhance the synergy between theoretical innovation and practical application. This symposium took place as a key initiative to serve the development demands of the new era, emphasizing the role of social science think tanks in driving academic research that supports economic and social progress. Liu aimed for this symposium to bring together insights from the government, academia, and industry to collaboratively discuss innovative development models for Hubei's ice and snow economy, driving breakthroughs in the province's ice and snow industry chain, cross-industry integration, and branding, ultimately enhancing Hubei's influence in the national and global ice and snow economy.

Lyu Wangang chaired the conference and extended sincere appreciation to all those who have long supported the development of Hubei's ice and snow industry. He noted that this symposium, themed "Maximizing Hubei's Ice and Snow Resource Advantages to Promote the Integrated Development of Business, Travel, Culture, Sports, and Health Industries" with a focus on innovative paths for deep integration of the ice and snow economy with multiple sectors, was organized to foster dialogue, build consensus, and mobilize collaboration. WHSU stands ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to reach a consensus on the development of winter sports, drive the integration and innovation of winter sports and technology, and contribute to the building of a leading sporting nation and a Healthy China, while empowering the promotion and innovation of the ice and snow industry.

Luo Qiyi pointed out that developing ice and snow sports should closely align with the essence of sports and should not be generalized as merely a tourism industry. He identified key actions: reinforcing strategic leadership by integrating ice and snow sports into the "Five Hubeis" blueprint for development; adopting an industry-focused approach that includes ice and snow consumption in the province's consumption stimulation framework; utilizing competitive sports to strengthen the foundation through professional teams, ice and snow club development, and social coach training; creating an innovative event structure that supports participation across all age groups; advancing the cultivation of professionals, especially trainers and safety personnel; supporting service-oriented businesses in the ice and snow sector, enhancing the industrial support framework, and driving the high-quality development of Hubei's ice and snow economy through a multi-faceted approach.

Liu Yanbo, on behalf of WHSU, welcomed the attendees by stating that WHSU, as a leading sporting institution of higher education grounded in Hubei Province, is committed to aligning closely with national sports industry development strategies and synchronizing with the region's economic and social progress. He noted the university's role in leveraging its academic strengths to drive innovations in the "Ice and Snow +" model, enhancing school-enterprise collaborations, and contributing to the research and development of ice and snow equipment as well as nurturing versatile talents. Furthermore, he emphasized the university's involvement in designing premium ice and snow tourism routes, creating ice and snow cultural IP by integrating disciplines like sports, culture, tourism, and health, and resorting to digital technologies to support the promotion and industrial advancement of ice and snow sports. He conveyed his aspiration that this symposium would be a catalyst for jointly exploring new pathways for the high-quality development of Hubei's ice and snow economy, sharing new opportunities for industry integration, and creating an innovative blueprint for the region's economic advancement, thereby energizing efforts to foster a prosperous era in the ice and snow industry.

In the keynote session, Professor Jiang Yiyi from Beijing Sport University gave a presentation titled "Ice and Snow Economy Empowering High-Quality Development: Paths and Strategic Recommendations for Revitalizing China's Ice and Snow Industry." She elaborated on how to promote the transformation and upgrading of the ice and snow industry and contribute to high-quality economic development in China by discussing international opportunities, trend features, and scientific predictions related to the development of China's ice and snow industry. Associate Professor Ding Yang from WHSU presented a report titled "Harnessing 'Cold Resources' to Ignite 'Hot Economy': A Study of High-Quality Development Pathways for Hubei's Ice and Snow Industry." By looking at the current state and challenges of Hubei's ice and snow industry, she assessed the pathways for high-quality development and proposed a development approach that emphasizes technological innovation as the main driving force behind a smart ice and snow industry.

A panel of experts and scholars shared their insights on the innovation of the ice and snow industry, activation of the ice and snow economy, and the development of ice and snow sports, offering suggestions for high-quality development. It included Jiang Zhixue, former Director of the Science and Education Department at the General Administration of Sport of China; Zhang Ruilin, Professor at Beijing Normal University; Liu Yaqun, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Youth Sports Federation and President of Zhongao Sports Development Group; Zhang Yuan, Vice President of Henan Sport University; Chen Linxiang, Level II Bureau Rank Official at the Wuhan Municipal Sports Bureau; Chen Wei, Vice President of the Hubei Ice and Snow Sports Association; Jiang Hua, Secretary-General of the Wuhan Ice and Snow Sports Association; Wang Liangming, Chairman of Hubei Sports Industry Group Co., Ltd.; Wang Hui, Senior Reporter at the Sports Industry Department of China Sports Daily; Professor Zou Benxu, Dean of the School of Social Sports at Shenyang Sport University; Niu Zhipei, Associate Dean of the School of Sports Leisure and Tourism at Beijing Sport University; Qu Shuang, Director of the Shangzhi Campus at Harbin Sport University; Professor Shen Keyin from the School of Economics and Management at WHSU; Professor Liang Qiang from the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics; Hou Hongcan, Brand Operations Director at Pegasus Sports; Li Yan, General Manager of WS & BONSKI; Fan Jun, Chairman of Beijing Century Star Skating Club; and Zhao Weihe, Business Supervisor of the Marketing Department at Beidahu Ski Resort.