On the evening of January 28, the awarding ceremony of the "2017 Top 10 Economic Personages of China" was held in Beijing Performance & Arts Center. Also known as the "Oscars of Chinese Economy", this event was co-organized by Sina Finance, People's Daily (Client), and Channel Wu. Mr. Yuan Yafei, Founder and Chairman of Sanpower Group (Sanpower), was awarded the title of “Top 10 Economic Personages of China” together with other winners, including Lei Jun, founder of Xiaomi Inc, Liu Qingfeng, founder of iFLYTECH, Zhou Hongyi, founder of Qihoo 360, Lu Shan, chairman of China Road & Bridge Corporation, and Gong Yu, founder of iQIYI.

 

Since its establishment, Sanpower has been devoted to development that follows the trend of China's Reform and Opening-up policy and it seizes the development opportunities of the era. In recent years, in active response to the Belt and Road Initiative, Sanpower is making every effort to benchmark advanced international practice and promote enterprise transformation and upgrading. As is stated in the presentation speech by the organizer, "Yuan initiated a series of overseas acquisitions. In 2017, Sanpower successfully acquired Dendreon's product Provenge, an autologous cellular immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer treatment, making it the largest transaction of a Chinese conglomerate acquiring pharmaceutical companies in the United States. Yuan follows the tide of changes, pursuing the extremity in his field and venturing into different industries. With the rapid synergistic development of its two core businesses – New Commerce and New Healthcare, this hundred-billion-market-value group is growing as a sustainable business." At present, Sanpower ranks No. 124 among China's Top 500 Enterprises and No. 21 among China's Top 500 Private Enterprises.

 

Yuan said at the awarding ceremony, "I'm very honored to be granted this award. I'd like to thank all the online participants for choosing me, and I deeply appreciate the recognition from Sina Finance, People's Daily (Client) and the jury of me and of Sanpower."

 

Themed as "Tribute to Our Time’s Driving Power" and focusing on innovation, revolution, vision, growth potential, and sustainability, this event looks for excellent entrepreneurs that lead business development, enterprise innovation, and the trend of the era. This year, the decision on final winners consists of “regional selection” and the “national final selection”; during which 55 "Regional Top 10 Figures" were chosen to join the other 130 nominees nationwide as the final candidates for online voting and the jury's consideration. Online voting started on 21^st November nationwide and lasted for 45 days. The online voting results combined with the judges' considerations decided the final winners of the "2017 Top 10 Economic Personages of China" and the "2017 Economic Young Talent".    

 

 

The following is Yuan's acceptance speech at the ceremony:

 

First of all, I’d like to thank the host as well as Sina Finance, People's Daily (Client) and Channel Wu for organizing the event, thank the online participants for voting for me, and thank the judges and social media for recognizing me.

 

I'm very honored to be given this award. Your acknowledgement represents your trust in me and Sanpower as well as the entrepreneurs who ventured into business in 1992 and 1993.   

 

The name Sanpower itself bears strong features of year 1992. Entrepreneurs who started businesses in 1992 wished to be associated with someone rich, some overseas Chinese, or the Chinese people in Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macao. Back then I returned home to check my relatives, finding them all farmers at home, none of which was overseas Chinese. In the hope of becoming overseas-related one day, the company was named "Sanpower", a homonym for the aforementioned "three types of Chinese compatriots".

 

As one of the entrepreneurs who ventured into business in 1992 or 1993, I'd like to share two understandings:  

 

Firstly, I have wide interest in many areas and I'd like to share it with you a verse I wrote summarizing the wisdom of various ancient Chinese philosophies including the Analects of Confucius, which I call the "Ode to Sanpower". It reads:

 

He who manages to take the first step will accomplish a thousand more.

The wise will not be confused while the brave are immune to fear.

Those who are well-suited shall last long;

Those who are benevolent shall have no enemy.

There are things to do and not to do;

Be content but also be aware of what causes discontent.

Keep your sharp edges in, but share your kindness with all.

Apply your talent where it is needed;

And stay true to your friends and those who are true to you.

 

Secondly, the development of Sanpower over the last two decades or so is just as what Mr. Wu said - in vast expanse of water grows big fish. Yet however vast the water is or however big the fish grows, I believe that the entrepreneurs that have made it thus far must have believed in this: Cowards never take the first step, and the weak perished halfway, while we will only be heading forward non-stop!

 

Thank you!

 

 

The awards list:

 

Name list of the Top 10 Economic Personages of China (in the order of award giving)

 

Lei Jun, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi

Yuan Yafei, Founder and Chairman of Sanpower Group

Liu Qingfeng, Founder of iFLYTECH

Zhou Hongyi, Founder of Qihoo 360

Lu Shan, Chairman and Party Secretary of China Road & Bridge Corporation

Gong Yu, Founder and CEO of iQIYI

Chen Dongsheng, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Taikang Group

Li Chuyuan, Party Secretary and Chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings

Libin, Founder and Chairman of NIO

Zhou Houjian, Chairman of Hisense

 

2017 Economic Young Talents

 

Dou Rongxing, Chairman of Zhongyuan Bank

Xuli, Co-founder and CEO of SenseTime