On December 11, the "20th China Entrepreneur Leader Annual Conference" hosted by China Entrepreneur Magazine was held in Beijing. Zhang Wenzhong, the founder of DMALL, won the "2022 Influential Business Leader" Lifetime Achievement Award. In the past nineteen annual conferences, including Ren Zhengfei, Zhang Ruimin, Liu Chuanzhi, Ning Gaoning, Dong Mingzhu, Zong Qinghou, Chen Dongsheng, Liu Yonghao, Li Dongsheng, Cao Dewang, etc., have received this honor.

The award citation reads:

He is an early-generation Chinese entrepreneur who gave up the "iron rice bowl" and jumped into the unpredictable business wave as early as 1993. He was the first to bring retail supermarkets into the lives of Chinese people. He is also an entrepreneur who experienced sudden life changes but picked himself up and led Wumart from traditional retail to the new entity era. During the extraordinary period of "fighting the epidemic and ensuring supply", he has always adhered to the business philosophy of "In the face of life, only conscience" - what he embodies is the innovative courage, the spirit of forging ahead, and the patriotism that are common to that generation of Chinese entrepreneurs.

The recommendation of the experts reads, "Zhang Wenzhong, with a sunny mind, tenacity and determination, shines with the unassuming and unyielding entrepreneurial spirit of this era."

Zhang Wenzhong said, "Here, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs of the evaluation committee. The past year has been an extraordinary year for each of us. Here, I also want to take this opportunity to especially thank all the students from Wumart, DMALL, METRO, Chongbai, Xinbai, B&Q, etc. who are fighting on the front line of fighting the epidemic and ensuring supply. Everyone has made arduous efforts. This Lifetime Achievement Award belongs to everyone, to our students fighting on the front line!"

Zhang Wenzhong said that Zhang Xingfa, the former president of AsiaInfo, sent him a WeChat screenshot that moved him particularly. The screenshot said that a young person entrusted him to convey his respect and gratitude to Wumart. During the difficult days of fighting the epidemic in Beijing not long ago, this young person found that many places were closed or the goods were not complete, while the Wumart near his home always persisted and provided a rich variety of goods with stable prices. When the epidemic hit, Wumart adhered to the spirit of "In the face of life, only conscience" and made its own efforts to ensure a good life for the common people. Receiving such a tangible affirmation is his own highlight moment as an entrepreneur.

"We have many unforgettable memories in the past year, and the most important one is that we have been fighting the epidemic for a year. We have paid a lot, but in this process, we are still standing here and still striving for the future. In the past year, we have also seen that the times are constantly progressing, especially digitalization, as the basic feature of our era, is playing an increasingly greater role. All industries are rapidly digitalizing." "We see the integration of online and offline, which has enabled traditional retail enterprises to be equipped with digital wings." Seven years ago, DMALL founded by Zhang Wenzhong has helped circulation enterprises achieve remarkable results in digital transformation. As of September 30, 2022, 458 circulation enterprises are operating under the support of DMALL's digital system. During the epidemic, the stores that have undergone digital transformation can overcome difficult conditions and provide better supply guarantee services.

Finally, Zhang Wenzhong said that the entrepreneurial spirit will definitely play a role in the new historical period and open up a new future. He said: "In the past 40 years, entrepreneurs have emerged in batches. I think we should thank this era. The reform and opening up have created a historical opportunity for the growth of entrepreneurs, allowing the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity that the Chinese people have accumulated for many years to be fully released. This entrepreneurial spirit has enabled us to have 40 years of rapid growth, to have the strength to be among the top in the world, and more importantly, to inspire batches of young people with the entrepreneurial spirit to continuously innovate, start businesses, and create, and continuously explore new chapters and open up a new future. I believe that our great country will definitely be able to withstand various tests and definitely be able to truly grow and progress in the historical period of our great rejuvenation. I wish more and more entrepreneurs to play their due roles in the historical period of China's great rejuvenation!"