China News Service, Hangzhou, February 22 (Tong Jingyi Xi Jinyan) On the 22nd, some media reported that Wahaha founder Zong Qinghou is currently being treated in the ICU ward of Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, which has attracted widespread public attention.

In this regard, the reporter contacted the relevant person in charge of Wahaha's public relations department, who said that the current situation is stable and thanked all sectors of society for their concern.

　　As a benchmark figure among Zhejiang businessmen, Zong Qinghou’s every move has attracted much attention from the outside world.

Zong Qinghou was born in Suqian, Jiangsu Province in 1945. When he was 4 years old, he moved back to his ancestral home of Hangzhou with his parents.

Because there are 5 brothers and sisters in the family, they are relatively poor.

Zong Qinghou.

Photo courtesy of Wahaha

　　According to the book "An Oral History of Zhejiang's 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up", Zong Qinghou recalled that after graduating from junior high school at the age of 17, he worked in Zhoushan Mamu Farm and Shaoxing Tea Plantation for 14 years.

In 1978, my mother retired early and returned to Hangzhou to take up a job and work as a worker in the workers and peasants carton factory run by Hangzhou Shangcheng District Post and Circuit School.

　　There is a photo in Wahaha's historical album: Zong Qinghou is riding a scooter, with only his back exposed, mixed in among a group of energetic primary school students.

In 1987, the 42-year-old Zong Qinghou borrowed 140,000 yuan and contracted to operate the school-run enterprise distribution department in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, the predecessor of Wahaha.

The story that followed is familiar to all of us. Because it was close to the market, Wahaha Children’s Oral Liquid was launched in 1988, thus tapping into the market’s first pot of gold.

　　"I was also a poor person before, but it was the party and the government that gave me the opportunity to get rich through hard work. We should drink water and think about the source, follow the party, run a good business, pay more taxes, create more jobs, and do more charity." At a gathering of Zhejiang businessmen. On the forum, Zong Qinghou said deeply.

　　This seems to be Zong Qinghou’s summary of his ups and downs in life for more than 70 years, and also his advice to the new generation of Zhejiang businessmen.

Like many of China's first self-made private entrepreneurs, Zong Qinghou has regarded his career as a part of his life. "We people don't have time to enjoy it. We are afraid that once we enjoy it and seek comfort, the enterprise will collapse." "

　　While they have spare energy, Zong Qinghou believes that entrepreneurs should do more charity and strive to become "Zhang Qian-style" social entrepreneurs to jointly create a better society and "let the people learn good education, have good medical treatment, and Having a place to live is the focus of the party and the country’s promotion, and it is also the direction of entrepreneurs’ efforts.”

　　"We have always believed that real wealth is not material wealth, but spiritual wealth." As one of the few first-generation Zhejiang businessmen still running on the front line, Zong Qinghou previously said in an interview with a reporter from China News Service, There are still many things to do.

　　The reporter observed that many Zhejiang businessmen are currently entering a critical period of inheritance from old to new. Zong Qinghou also made early plans for this. His daughter Zong Fuli returned to China after graduating in 2004 and founded Hongsheng Beverage Group in 2018. He served as the director of Wahaha's public relations department and currently serves as the vice chairman and general manager of Wahaha Group.

　　Wahaha's official public account previously announced that Wahaha held the fifth employee (member) congress of the eighth session and the 2023 annual summary and commendation conference.

According to the disclosure, Zong Fuli pointed out that the company's development is at a critical juncture of transformation and upgrading and faces many challenges and problems.

She emphasized that only by continuously improving and innovating and finding accurate positioning and advantages in the overall market can enterprises strive to find a new path in high-quality development.

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