National model workers and role models visit an exhibition showcasing progress in the past five years under the leadership of the CPC at the Beijing Exhibition Hall on Wednesday. The backdrop is a model of Jiaolong, China's deep-sea submersible. Zou Hong/China Daily

The 60-year-old worker at Ansteel Mining in Anshan, Liaoning province, was in Beijing to give a keynote speech at the Great Hall of the People with the theme of combining the Chinese Dream with personal dreams.

Five of the nine keynote speakers followed his suggestion to visit the exhibition on Wednesday afternoon before they left the city.

"I am so impressed with the exhibition. The past five years are five years with brilliant and universally recognized achievements under the leadership of President Xi," he said, adding that his company has benefited from the decision to carry out supply-side structural reform.

Visitors watch a model of Fuxing (or Rejuvenation), China's locally developed bullet train, at the Beijing Exhibition Hall on Wednesday. Zou Hong/China Daily

The slashing of excessive steelmaking capacity, which is part of the reform, has greatly improved the efficiency of his company, which has made up its deficits and saw surpluses in the first quarter, he said.

"This great achievement strengthened my desire to follow Xi as our leader," he added.

Zhang Chaofan, 25, an entrepreneur who started an art training school in Jilin province in 2015, said she could not be prouder of her country after seeing the exhibition.

Roza Mehmet Buc, a national model worker, watches an exhibit of Xuelong (or Snow Dragon), China's polar research vessel and icebreaker, at the Beijing Exhibition Hall on Wednesday. Photo/VCG

The youth have a lot of opportunities to start their own businesses and grow up together with the country, she said. "I feel lucky that I was born in China."

Zhang, who was born without a left hand, said the local disabled person's federation in Changchun, Jilin province, helped by providing a subsidy of 30,000 yuan ($4,500) so she could rent an office when she started her school.

She said she has also enjoyed other preferential policies from the government.