A network security expert from Harbin has won top prize in the category of network security. The prize was won at an awards ceremony held on Sept 19 for national experts who have made contributions to network security, Harbin Daily reported.

Xiao Xinguang, founder of Harbin Antian Technological Co Ltd, has been listed among top ten highly-talented individuals with expertise in the field of network security. He was also the only person winning the title not from a company based in Beijing.

On April 19, 2016, Xiao delivered a speech on the topic of weaknesses and other problems in network security, at the national symposium on network security and informationization.

On May 25, when President Xi Jinping made an inspection tour of Heilongjiang, including to Antian headquarters, Xiao spoke with the President. After listening to Xiao’s report, President Xi told staff working at the company that their work in the private sector is of national importance. This is the first time the President has visited a network security company.

After receiving the award Xiao said that there are still many challenges to China’s network security, but that the industry is developing quickly. Xiao went on to thank his group for its hard work, adding that the prize money will go to technical experts and engineers at Antian.

Xiao started his Harbin-based business in 2000. Antian focuses on detecting threats and developing defense technologies. Today, Antian provides threat detection software to over 40 companies around the the world.