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Zong Qinghou, the founder and chairman of Hangzhou Wahaha Group, China's leading beverage manufacturer, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79.
中国领先的饮料制造商杭州娃哈哈集团创始人兼董事长宗庆后于周日去世，享年79岁。
As one of the most respected representatives of China's first generation of entrepreneurs since the country embarked on reform and opening-up in 1978,
作为1978年改革开放以来中国第一代企业家中最受尊敬的代表之一，
Zong's down-to-earth style and innovative spirit greatly impressed the public.
宗庆后的脚踏实地的作风和创新精神给世人留下了深刻的印象。
Experts said Zong's rags-to-riches life story will surely inspire more Chinese entrepreneurs to focus on the real economy and run their businesses in a pragmatic and steady manner.
专家表示，宗庆后白手起家的人生故事必将激励更多中国企业家聚焦实体经济，务实稳健地经营企业。
Born in 1945 in Suqian, Jiangsu province, Zong took over a small grocery store at a school in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in 1987, and worked as a distributor of soft drinks and popsicles for children.
宗庆后1945年出生于江苏宿迁，1987年接管了浙江杭州一所学校的一家小杂货店，从事儿童软饮料和冰棍经销。
In 1989, he founded Hangzhou Wahaha Nutritional Food Factory, which became Hangzhou Wahaha Group two years later after the acquisition of a local canned food factory on the verge of bankruptcy.
1989年，他创办了杭州娃哈哈营养食品厂，两年后收购了当地一家濒临破产的罐头厂，成为杭州娃哈哈集团。
In 1996, Zong launched Wahaha AD calcium milk, which became a great hit with Chinese consumers.
1996年，宗庆后推出娃哈哈AD钙奶，受到中国消费者的欢迎。
The company's products now cover more than 200 categories, including purified water, milk and yogurt drinks, carbonated drinks, fruit and vegetable juice, tea and coffee drinks, with its sales revenue reaching 51.2 billion yuan ($7.1 billion) in 2022.
该公司产品目前涵盖纯净水、牛奶及酸奶饮料、碳酸饮料、果蔬汁、茶和咖啡饮料等200多个品类，2022年销售收入达到512亿元人民币。
It has nearly 30,000 employees and 81 production bases nationwide.
全国81个生产基地，雇佣 3万名员工。
As one of the most iconic figures in Chinese business history, Zong was ranked as the country's richest person in 2010, 2012 and 2013 by business magazine Forbes.
作为中国商业史上最具标志性的人物之一，宗庆后在2010年、2012年和2013年先后被商业杂志《福布斯》评为中国首富。
However, Zong led a simple and thrifty life. He lived frugally, and it was common to see him dressed in a white shirt and black cloth shoes.
然而，宗庆后却过着简朴节俭的生活。他生活俭朴，经常看到他穿着白衬衫和黑布鞋。
He once said, "I am an ordinary person, but luckily I was born in such an era." He said that Wahaha would not exist without reform and opening-up.
他曾说过：“我是一个普通人，但幸运的是我出生在这样一个时代，没有改革开放就没有娃哈哈。“
He said that Chinese entrepreneurs should fulfill their social responsibilities, and create wealth for the people, adding that they should create more employment opportunities and participate in public welfare activities, contributing to the country's economic and social development.
他表示，中国企业家要履行社会责任，为人民创造财富，创造更多就业机会，参与公益活动，为国家经济社会发展作出贡献。
Zong was a deputy to the 10th, 11th and 12th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.
宗庆后是中国最高立法机关第十届、第十一届和第十二届全国人民代表大会代表。
Pan Helin, co-director of the Digital Economy and Financial Innovation Research Center at Zhejiang University's International Business School, said,
浙江大学国际商学院数字经济与金融创新研究中心联席主任盘和林表示：
"As a representative of the first generation of Chinese entrepreneurs after the start of reform and opening-up, Zong always focused on the real economy and was not involved in finance and property."
“作为改革开放后第一代中国企业家的代表，宗庆后始终关注实体经济，不涉足金融、地产。”
Zong turned a small drinks business into a beverage conglomerate, and his down-to-earth entrepreneurial spirit, perseverance and courage to face difficulties will encourage further generations of Chinese entrepreneurs to expand their businesses step by step, Pan said.
宗庆后将一家小型饮料企业发展成为饮料集团，他脚踏实地的创业精神、坚忍不拔的毅力和迎难而上的勇气，将激励一代又一代的中国企业家一步步拓展事业。
Guo Tao, deputy head of the China Electronic Commerce Expert Service Center, said Zong's deep understanding and insightfulness regarding the real economy not only laid a solid foundation for the company's development,
中国电子商务专家服务中心副主任郭涛认为，宗庆后对实体经济的深刻理解和洞察不仅为公司的发展奠定了坚实的基础，
but also made a contribution to the development of China's manufacturing sector.
也为中国制造业的发展做出了贡献。
Moreover, Zong attached great importance to technological innovation, which was conducive to ensuring the quality and diversity of Wahaha's products in a highly competitive market,
此外，他高度重视技术创新，有利于在激烈的市场竞争中保证娃哈哈产品的质量和多样性，
and providing strong impetus to the company's sustainable growth, Guo said. "Zong's management philosophy has set an example for the development of China's private economy."
为公司的可持续发展提供强劲动力，宗庆后的管理理念为中国民营经济的发展树立了榜样。
