Raise the great cause of commerce and trade, and seize the forerunner of finance.
Shanxi merchants have experienced 500 years of ups and downs, and the bank accounts have been connected to the world. The business scope is all-encompassing. It has left a strong business culture in the history of my country’s economic development.
On the morning of the 27th, in the ancient city of Pingyao, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to the Rishengchang Ticket Museum to learn about the breeding and development of Shanxi merchant culture and spirit of Shanxi merchants.
Today, let us follow the footsteps of the general secretary, experience the Shanxi merchant culture in the depths of the ancient city, and appreciate the spirit of Shanxi merchants in the pulse of history.
Integrity · Chinese people have always been asking for “one promise and a thousand gold”
Shanxi has a long commercial history.
In the Tang Dynasty, Han Yuyou’s poem said, “Sounding the drums in the street, the morning is like a morning”, which depicts the prosperous business scene on both sides of the Fen River in Shanxi. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, Shanxi merchants represented by Taigu, Qixian, Pingyao, etc. shouldered their shoulders and traveled north and south, becoming one of the most powerful merchant gangs in the country.
“It’s better to make compensations than to make customers suffer losses.” “Sincerely recruit customers from all over the world, and earn money from all directions”… Shanxi merchants started with small profits, and they radiated from the Sanjin to the northern and southern Jiangnan, relying on honesty.
Taigu Guangyuyuan Pharmacy, which guarantees precise purchase of raw materials for dispensing, “Guilingji” and “Dingkundan” are prosperous; Qixian Fushenggong’s business has never been short of jin or short liang, and the “Fu” brand is well-known for its goods; Pingyao Changtaiyong Silk and Satin Village does the best of its beauty without raising the price, and enjoys a good reputation for brocade silk. Shanxi merchants established business names with sincerity to win, and sincerity to make profits, won the favor of customers.
“Those who are sincere are the way of heaven; those who are sincere are the way of man.” People cannot stand without trust, especially for enterprises and entrepreneurs.
In March 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out when visiting members of the Democratic Construction Industry Federation who attended the CPPCC meeting: “All types of enterprises must regard law-abiding integrity as the foundation of their lives.”
In July 2020, at the Entrepreneurs Symposium, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Entrepreneurs must deal with all aspects and mobilize various resources such as people, money, and materials. Without integrity, it is impossible to do anything.”
“The integrity of the world is also the knot of the world.” The relationship between people is to keep their word, and the relationship between countries pays attention to integrity.
“To solve the problems in cooperation, we speak a word of ‘honesty'” “Chinese people always believe what they say and do what they do. What China says and what it promises, it will definitely be done and fulfilled.” “The Chinese people always ask for ‘One promise, one gold'”…Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of integrity on many diplomatic occasions, opening up a new perspective and providing basic guidelines for the expression of integrity in international relations and the value of the times.
Innovation, the deepest national endowment of the Chinese nation
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with the development of the commodity economy and the increase of the inter-port currency circulation, the method of escorting silver taels by the security bureau became more and more unsuitable for the ever-expanding demand for currency delivery due to its high cost and low security.
Against such a social background, China’s first ticket number, Rishengchang Ticket Number, came into being in Pingyao, Shanxi. The ticket number is a private financial institution specializing in the business of remittance and deposit between banks and two places, and it is also the predecessor of the modern bank.
After the establishment of the Rishengchang ticket number, the business has developed rapidly. The annual exchange amount in the golden period is as high as 38 million taels of silver, which can be described as a “Daily Profitable Gold”; its operating outlets are almost all over the country, which can be described as “a paper popular”.
“Wealth is called great cause, and newness is called Shengde.” The innovative spirit of Shanxi merchants is not only reflected in the establishment of the bank.
Introduce talents, implement “manager system”, separate ownership and management rights, and eliminate the disadvantages of low management efficiency and high operating costs; introduce funds, implement “shareholding system”, absorb idle funds, achieve mutual benefit and win-win, and meet the needs of large commerce and large circulation. meet the needs of capital; break geographical restrictions, implement “joint operation”, and effectively deal with the risks caused by market uncertainty…
Five hundred years of brilliance of Shanxi merchants, innovation is the source of living water.
“The Chinese nation is a nation of integrity and innovation” and “has a tradition of integrity and innovation”. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the importance of innovation. He pointed out: “Innovation is the soul of a nation’s progress, the inexhaustible driving force for a country’s prosperity, and the deepest national endowment of the Chinese nation.”
It has successively deployed and established 21 free trade pilot zones, formed a pilot pattern covering east, west, north, south, and China, and launched a large number of high-level institutional innovations; Shenzhou Feitian, 5G leader, deep-sea energy storage, vaccine research and development, and good scientific and technological innovation first moves; in-depth implementation The strategy of strengthening the country with talents in the new era, and accelerating the construction of an important talent center and innovation highland in the world… Today, in China, the answer sheet for the era of innovation-driven development is being written.
“Life never favors those who are conservative and satisfied with the status quo, and never wait for those who are not enterprising and enjoy their achievements, but leave more opportunities to those who are good and innovative.”
The long river of history flows forward, and the spirit of innovation lasts forever.
Openness · The bigger the vision, the bigger the mind
“Wherever there are sparrows, there are Shanxi merchants.” This saying is the truest portrayal of Shanxi merchants.
Shanxi has many mountains and barren soil, but is rich in coal, iron and salt. Since ancient times, Shanxi people have used natural resources to exchange needed materials with others. Until the Ming and Qing dynasties, the scope of commodity exchange gradually expanded, and the footprints of Shanxi merchants spread all over Europe and Asia.
Historically, Shanxi has been an important part of the “One Belt, One Road” large business district. In and out of the border, they transported grain, grass and salt, went deep into the desert to sell fur, mules and horses, and went far away to Russia to export tea and silk. Shanxi merchants witnessed the grand occasion of “envoys meet each other, business travel is endless”, and also witnessed “camel and horse shuttle, I don’t know what it is.” number” prosperity. Over the past century, the “open” spirit of Shanxi merchants has communicated the connection between developed commercial ports and remote frontiers, and has also built a bridge between domestic and foreign markets.
Throughout the history of human social development, the world economy thrives when it is open, and declines when it is closed. Only openness can make progress.
In March 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized when participating in the deliberation of the Fujian delegation: “To build a team of entrepreneurs with pioneering spirit, forward-looking vision and international vision in market competition.”
In July 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Entrepreneurs Symposium: “Entrepreneurs must base themselves in China and look at the world.”
Opening up brings a vast world for the development of enterprises, and it is the only way for the country to prosper and develop.
“For a country, opening up is like breaking out of a cocoon into a butterfly. Although it will experience temporary pain, it will bring new life.” “China’s opening to the outside world will not stagnate, nor will it go back.” Without isolation, integration without decoupling, and promoting the construction of an open world economy”…
Word by word, loud and clear. China’s opening door will not be closed, it will only open wider.
In the future, China will embrace the world with a more open attitude.
Coordination: Zhao Jiaming, Cui Shixin
Written by: Cui Can
Curated by: Du Shanze
Image source: Xinhua News Agency (Photo: Yan Yan, Visual: Lai Xiangdong, Bi Xiaoyang)
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责编：杨煜 ]