马里奥的长沙“通关”之旅

He is from Italy, and at the age of 73, he is still active in the workshop, becoming a "New Citizen of Changsha" who grows together with the city——Mario's "Clearance" Journey in Changsha

他来自意大利，73 岁仍活跃在车间里，成为与城市共发展的“新长沙人”——马里奥的长沙“通关”之旅

In the game world, Mario, the Italian plumber wearing a red hat and blue overalls, rewrote the history of games by jumping through levels; in real life, another "Mario" from Italy completed a more wonderful "clearance" in Changsha in 25 years -- from a foreign enterprise pioneer to a "New Citizen of Changsha" holding the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the People’s Republic of China. Now, at the age of 73, he is still active in the workshop, participating in and witnessing the opening up and take-off of an inland city together with his partners.

游戏世界里，头戴红色帽子、身穿蓝色背带裤的意大利水管工马里奥以跳跃闯关改写游戏史；现实生活中，另一位来自意大利的“马里奥”，在长沙用25年完成了更精彩的“通关”——从外企拓荒者到持中华人民共和国外国人永久居留身份证的“新长沙人”。如今，73岁的他仍活跃在车间里，和伙伴一起参与和见证着一座内陆城市的开放与腾飞。

What can you do at the age of 73? Mario Pastore, CEO of Changsha XiMai MechanicalConstruction (hereinafter referred to as "XiMai"), wrote his answer into the annual rings of Changsha's development.

73岁能做什么？巴斯托罗·马里奥（Mario Pastore），长沙熙迈机械制造有限公司（以下称“熙迈”）CEO将自己的答案写进长沙发展的年轮里。

Map Setting

Abandoning the coastal areas and choosing Changsha, because there is a promising future here

地图设定

放弃沿海选长沙，因为这里大有可为

The reporter's first meeting with Mario was in September. Changsha was sweltering,and in the even hotter workshop, Mario was watching the precision cylinder blocks come off the assembly line one after another. This is the 18th year of XiMai in Changsha, and the company is operating as usual.

初见马里奥是在9月，长沙很热，更热的车间里，马里奥正看着精密缸体一个个接连下线。这是熙迈在长沙的第十八年，公司运行如常。

In 2007, two Italian companies, Marval and CMD, wanted to invest in China and found Mario. After inspecting some coastal cities, Mario finally chose Changsha.

2007年，意大利Marval和CMD两家公司希望在中国投资，找到马里奥。考察过沿海一些城市后，马里奥最终选择长沙。

In September of that year, Changsha XiMai MechanicalConstructionwas officially established, becoming one of the first foreign-funded enterprises in Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, focusing on the development, production and sales of internal combustion engine parts and transmission system products.

当年9月，长沙熙迈机械制造有限公司正式成立，成为长沙经开区首批外资企业，聚焦内燃发动机零部件及传动系产品开发生产和销售。

At that time, Changsha was still a piece of undeveloped land for foreign-fundedenterprises. Why choose Changsha?

彼时的长沙，对外企而言还是一片待开垦的土地。为什么选长沙？

"At that time, the eastern region of China developed better, but Changsha, as a core city in the central region, had great potential." In addition to factors such as preferential government policies, Mario was also optimistic about the initial formation of the automobile and parts industry chain in Changsha at that time, and the advantages of industrial agglomeration were gradually emerging.

“当时中国东部地区发展得更好，但长沙作为中部核心城市，潜力巨大。”除了政府优惠政策等因素，马里奥还看好当时长沙汽车及零部件产业链已初成气候，产业聚集优势逐步凸显。

Mario, who has been engaged in the machinery processing industry for more than 40 years, is the technical core, sales expert and a "decisive" decision-maker of the company. However, when talking about the company's development history, he was smiling, and "confidence" was the word he mentioned most.

从事机械加工行业40余年的马里奥是公司的技术核心、销售能手，也是“杀伐果断”的决策者，说起公司发展史时，他却是一副笑吟吟的样子，“信心”是他提及最多的词。

From site selection to business license handling, to equipment crossing the ocean and workers entering the site to start work, XiMai only took half a year. Mario said that such a speed was an unprecedented experience in his career, "which also made the parent company firm in its confidence to invest in Changsha".

从选址到办理营业执照，再到设备漂洋过海、工人进场开工，熙迈仅用时半年。马里奥说，这样的速度是他从业生涯里前所未有的经历，“也让母公司坚定了投资长沙的信心”。

XiMai is like a seed, gradually growing into a big tree under the nourishment of Changsha. Talking about the future, as the "first-generation level breaker" of foreign-fundedenterprises in Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, Mario is still full of confidence, "Facts have proved that our judgment to choose Changsha at that time was completely correct".

熙迈如同一粒种子，在长沙的滋养下逐渐长成大树。谈到未来，作为长沙经开区的外企“初代闯关者”，马里奥依充满信心，“事实证明，我们当时选择长沙的判断完全正确”。

Upgrade Strategy

Using "Chinese Style" to solve development problems

升级攻略

用“中国 Style”破解发展难题

Growth on the "fertile soil" is not without thorns. XiMai encountered the first "level-breaking problem" as soon as it settled in: the shortage of high-end talents."

“沃土”上的生长并非没有荆棘。熙迈刚落地就遇到了第一个“闯关难题”：高端人才缺口。

After the relevant departments knew about our difficulties, they organized some enterprises including XiMai to go to Shanghai and other places to recruit talents in groups at the first time." Mario still remembers the scene at that time: at the job fair, a red banner was pulled open, with the words "Welcome back to Changsha to work" written on it.

“相关部门知道我们的困难后，第一时间组织包括熙迈在内的一些企业组团去上海等地招聘。”马里奥还记得当时的场景：招聘会上，一条红色的横幅拉开，上面写着“欢迎回到长沙工作”。

To Mario's surprise, many talents from Hunan at the scene expressed their willingness to return to Changsha to work hard. "Their families are in Changsha, but they have been employed in the eastern region just because they lack a good job opportunity." Mario said.

让马里奥没想到的是，现场不少湖南籍人才表示愿意回长沙打拼。“他们的家人在长沙，只因缺一个好的工作机会，所以一直在东部地区就业。”马里奥说。

From the initial 27 people to more than 400 people now, Mario has fulfilled his promise of "providing highly competitive remuneration and better development opportunities", and has also deeply felt the Chinese people's obsession with family, and practiced it in enterprise management.

从最初的27人到现在的400多人，马里奥履行了“提供极具竞争力的报酬和更好发展机遇”的承诺，也深刻感受到中国人对于家的执念，并将其践行在企业管理中。

Now, a New Year greeting letter written by Mario to his employees at the end of 2022 is still posted on the wall of his office. In the letter, he thanked all employees for their joint efforts to achieve the goal. "Treating partners as family members is not only the key to the enterprise's stable team, but also the way I establish emotional connection with this land." In his opinion, the warm and harmonious team atmosphere is exchanged with time and sincerity.

如今，马里奥办公室的墙上还贴着一封他2022年底写给员工的新年问候信。信中，他感谢所有员工共同努力实现目标。“把伙伴当成家人，既是企业稳定团队的关键，也是我与这片土地建立情感联结的方式。”在他看来，团队氛围温暖融洽，这是时间与真诚换来的。

In the early days, XiMai only developed export business. How to win greater development? This time, Changsha built a "ladder" again. The main business of XiMaiis related to automobiles. Changsha has vigorously developed the automobile and parts industry, and more and more enterprises in the automobile field have come to Changsha to invest, forming a cluster advantage. From January to August this year, the output of complete vehicles in Changsha reached 672,000, a year-on-year increase of 15.7%. This has given XiMaimore development space.

早期熙迈仅发展出口业务，如何赢得更大发展？这一次，长沙再次搭建“梯子”。熙迈制造主要业务与汽车相关，长沙大力发展汽车及零部件产业，越来越多汽车领域的企业来到长沙投资，形成集群优势。今年1至8月，长沙整车产量达67.2万辆，同比增长15.7%。这给了熙迈制造更大的发展空间。

"The Chinese market changes very fast, and our products must be constantly updated and iterated to meet the demand. Understanding Chinese culture, keeping up with the pulse of China's development and integrating into the Chinese market are the 'Chinese Style' that foreign-funded enterprises should have. Now, we have in-depth cooperation with Sany, BYD and other enterprises." Talking about the company's development, Mariowas full of excitement, "Our goal this year is to have a turnover of more than 1 billion yuan, which will be an amazing development speed."

“中国市场变化很快，我们的产品必须不断更新迭代才能适应需求。理解中国文化、紧跟中国发展的脉搏、融入中国市场，是外资企业应有的‘中国Style’。现在，我们与三一、比亚迪等都有深度合作。”说起公司的发展，马里奥语气充满兴奋，“我们今年的目标是营业额超10亿元，这会是一个了不起的发展速度。”

High Score Clearance

Becoming a "New Citizen of Changsha" who grows together with the city

高分通关

成为与城市共发展的“新长沙人”

In countless days and nights of hard work, Changsha has made Mario feel a sense of belonging like home.

在无数个奋战的日夜里，长沙让马里奥有了家一样的归属感。

In 2016, Mario formally submitted an application to the relevant departments, and on March 29, 2018, he obtained the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the People’s Republic of Chinaand became a resident of Changsha. In 2012, he also won the "Xiaoxiang Friendship Award" of Hunan Province.

2016年，马里奥正式向有关部门递交申请，并于2018年3月29日拿到了中华人民共和国外国人永久居留身份证，成为长沙居民。2012年，他还获得了湖南省“潇湘友谊奖”。

In Mario's view, the most touching characteristic of Changsha is "the growth power in inclusiveness", "it is like a person full of enterprising spirit, willing to accept new things and good at creating new possibilities".

在马里奥看来，长沙最动人的特质是“包容中的生长力”，“像个充满闯劲的人，愿意接纳新事物，也善于创造新可能”。

This coincides with his philosophy of life -- age is never a reason to stop moving forward.

这与他的人生哲学不谋而合——年龄从不是停止前行的理由。

Now, Mario still maintains a stable working state, and he handles many matters related to the enterprise by himself. In his spare time, he also wanders through the streets and alleys, using a paintbrush to "freeze-frame" the daily life and human warmth of Changsha: children running on the streets, residents enjoying the cool under the shade of trees, the comfortable smiles of young people... The drawing board is full of the vigor and vitality of the city.

现在，马里奥还保持着稳定工作的状态，与企业相关的很多事他都要自己做。闲暇时，他还会走街串巷，用一支画笔“定格”长沙的市井人情，街道上奔跑的孩子、树荫下乘凉的居民、青年人惬意的微笑……画板上满是城市的生机与活力。

Young colleagues lament that Mario's life is like a magnificent long river. Age has not become a limitation, but has made him more vivid and tenacious.

年轻同事感慨，马里奥的人生像一条波澜壮阔的长河，年龄没有成为限制，反而让他更加生动、坚韧。

During the interview, Mario occasionally said "I want to retire", but everyone knows that he will not stop. The reporter joked: "You can work until you are 80 years old." He also smiled: "Our team is young and energetic. In the future, it's also good for me to be a person who guides the direction."

采访中，马里奥偶尔会说“要退休”，但谁都知道，他不会停下。记者开玩笑说：“你做到80岁都行。”他也笑了：“我们的团队年轻有活力，以后我来做个指引方向的人，也不错。”

Over 25 years,from a "foreigner" to a "New Citizen of Changsha", Mario's "clearance" story contains an open China and a Changsha that is both inclusive and dynamic. This has attracted a growing number offoreign entrepreneurs like Mario to join in, injecting international strength into China's development and city'sprogress. In this mutual embrace, Changsha's path of opening up is widening, and China's story of opening up is becoming increasingly splendid.

25年，从“异乡人”到“新长沙人”，马里奥的“通关”故事里，藏着一个开放的中国、一个兼具包容与活力的长沙，这吸引着越来越多像马里奥这样的外籍创业者加入，为中国的发展、城市的进步注入国际力量。双向奔赴中，长沙的开放之路越走越宽，中国的开放故事也愈加精彩。