" That day, China Resources 's Lin Zhongming and Park Jinxin contacted me and asked me to arrange a secret place to talk and not go to the hotel. I arranged it in my Repulse Bay apartment. "
One day in April 1973, the famous "World Sugar King", Singapore Overseas Chinese Businessman Guo Henian received a call.
Picture | Guo Henian
Guo Henian was very impressed by this call. Considering the importance of the matter, he just said that he wanted to meet him. Guo Henian also knew that the situation was urgent, so he rushed from Singapore to Hong Kong without hesitation. At Baohua Building in Hong Kong, he met two managers from China Resources Wufengxing.
In Guo Henian’s memories, the two people mentioned are from China Resources Wufengxing.
The predecessor of China Resources was an underground transportation station established by the Communist Party of China in Hong Kong in 1938. It was originally named "United Travel". It was renamed after its reorganization in 1948. In 1952, it was renamed from the original affiliated to the General Office of the Central Committee and became the dispatched agency of China Grain, Oil and Food Import and Export Corporation in Hong Kong.
951, after Wufengxing was established, it was transferred to China Resources Company in 1954, mainly engaged in agricultural product trade.The reason why China Resources Wufengxing urgently contacted Guo Henian is naturally extremely important.
In the 1970s, China had become a major import and export power, and accounted for a considerable proportion of world trade. However, since China was in the planned economy period, the smooth procurement of required materials was formulated at the end of the year and implemented again in the second year. In this way, it is easy for countries around the world to understand China's laws from transactions. Foreign merchants used my country's centralized procurement of reserve materials to hoard goods, resulting in a sharp rise in prices of chemical fertilizers, grain, oil, sugar and other commodities on the market.
973, China urgently needed a large amount of raw sugar supply. In the case of insufficient domestic supply, China Grain, Oil and Food Import and Export Corporation entrusted China Resources Wufeng Bank in Hong Kong to be responsible for the acquisition. The person in charge of China Resources Wufeng Bank was very clear that if China purchased raw sugar in the international market at this time, it would inevitably lead to a sharp increase in the price of raw sugar. If the plan was forced to be completed, it would not only consume a large amount of foreign exchange reserves, but it might even fail to complete the task. Moreover, in that year, the Ministry of Foreign Trade limited the highest price for China Resources Wufengchang.
Picture | Guo Henian
In this case, the person in charge of China Resources Wufengxing found Guo Henian, known as the "Sugar King in the World", and asked him to come forward to do this.
"Not only do you have to buy a large amount of raw sugar spot, but you also have to make a big profit from the raw sugar futures market."
As a successful businessman, Guo Henian has been working hard in the international market for many years. Since the 1960s, he has seen the demand for sugar in the world market and invested a lot of money. It is also because of Guo Henian's important position in the world's raw sugar market that China Resources Wufengxing found him specially.
So, how should Guo Henian choose at this time?
"My heart is divided into two petals"
Guo Henian once said in an interview with a reporter from " Takong ":
"My heart is divided into two petals, one petal is the country where I love my growth, and the other petal is the hometown where I love my parents' growth."
Although Guo Henian was born in Malaysia , what flows in his bones is always the blood of the Chinese.
Of course, there is still a fate between China and Guo Henian.
pic | When Guo Henian was young,
In the 1960s, Indonesian After the industry of Huang Zhonghan's family was confiscated by the Indonesian government, a gap appeared in the Asian sugar industry market. China was also very keen to discover this market. Taking advantage of this opportunity, China exported a large amount of sugar to Malaysia. Because of the large quantity and low price, it quickly occupied the Malaysian market.
But this sudden situation caught Guo Henian off guard. Guo Henian's father had been operating a sugar, grain and oil business in Malaysia for his whole generation. He himself built a sugar factory in Malaysia in the late 1950s. Chinese sugar suddenly poured into the Malaysian market and occupied a dominant position, causing this person, who is known as the "Malaysian sugar king", to encounter a crisis.
However, after all, Guo Henian's business world has been rising for many years. Soon he got a large amount of raw sugar through India and dumped it at a low price, successfully regaining the market.
was also because of this opportunity that it led to the fate of China and Robert Kuo. Later, China chose to cooperate with Robert Kuo, which not only smoothly planned the international market, but also laid a good foundation for Robert Kuo to enter the Chinese market.
Since the early 1960s, Guo Henian has returned to the mainland of the motherland many times and organized patriotic overseas Chinese to visit many times. Guo Henian himself was elected as a representative to attend the National Day reception in Beijing, and had several meetings with Premier Zhou. The two sides have been constantly communicating and interacting with each other for ten years, and everyone has become very good friends.
Guo Henian also decided from the bottom of his heart to do more for the country.
In 1973, China urgently needed raw sugar supply. When China Resources Wufengxing found Guo Henian, he agreed without hesitation when he heard that it was a national demand.
"I will definitely help with this, but we all have to hurry up. Think quickly and do it quickly."
Guo Henian also promised to temporarily freeze his business and free up one or two months to promote this matter.
Picture | When I was a child, the three brothers of Guo Henian took a photo with their mother
As the world's sugar king, Guo Henian is very familiar with the trends of raw sugar in the international market. At that time, the spot price of raw sugar trading in the world was only about 1,000 tons, which was at a historical low. If China urgently needed a large amount of raw sugar to leak, the sugar price in the international market would definitely rise. According to Guo Henian's estimate, the sugar price in the international market would rise at least 20%-25%.
If you want to win this battle of raw sugar, speed is the key.
Guo Henian knew very well that if he came out to buy candy, it would definitely attract attention, so he had to think of a way to make the attention of the whole world pay attention to him, so that everyone would have no time to pay attention to the situation of buying raw candy in China.
In order to avoid stimulating the international raw sugar prices, Kuo Henian first sent staff to the UK to buy 260,000 tons of raw sugar futures from London, at a price of 82 pounds per ton. He also went to Geneva to attend the International Sugar Industry Conference in person. was just when the world was focusing on him, Kuo Henian and his colleagues from China Resources Wufengxing quickly went to Brazil to buy raw sugar spots in the name of Kuo Henian. Then he went to Australia, Thailand, Dominican, Argentina and purchased 410,000 tons of spot raw sugar.
While Guo Henian was cheering and drinking at the Sugar Industry Conference, he was constantly paying attention to the situation on the market. Previously, by buying sugar futures in London, the sugar futures market rose slightly, and everyone's attention was on this matter.
pic | Guo Henian
Just during the meeting, a British business friend of Guo Henian accidentally talked about something, which made Guo Henian sweat.
Do you know? It’s very strange recently that there are two or three young Japanese people who have never seen before, who come in and out of the sugar area every day, and it seems that something big is going to happen. "
Guo Henian was shocked, but he quickly stabilized his expression and pretended to attach great importance to it and said:
" Is that right? What news and market conditions do you have, please tell me. "
can become a business tycoon, and no one has its own source of information. This situation really scared Guo Henian, but fortunately, it was in the end without any danger.
At the same time, Guo Henian took advantage of the low period of the international raw sugar futures market to buy a large number of raw sugar futures from international markets such as London.
waited until the international market realized that China acquired spot raw sugar, and while the price increased significantly, we had completed the acquisition of spot raw sugar. By May 22, the price of raw sugar rose to 105 pounds per ton, and there was still a continuous upward trend.
Starting from May 22, Guo Henian and China Resources Wufenghang sold futures a few months ago, and took advantage of the rising trend of the raw sugar market and made a big profit.
successfully started
"That night, I didn't remember when I left China Resources, nor did I remember who sent me home and how I got into the house."
China not only completed the established tasks in the international raw sugar market, but also made a big profit through raw sugar futures trading. Zhang Guangdou, general manager of China Resources Company, and all the staff participating in this project held a party, and everyone was drunk.
Picture | Photos of Guo Henian (first from left) and Lee Kuan Yew and others. The two were classmates.
This success is also the first time that China has helped the country save foreign exchange through futures trade while also transferring money.
However, this behavior also received a lot of criticism at the time. Li Qiang, then deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, was the first to be the one who approved China Resources to take flexible measures in the process of purchasing sugar. Later, Chen Yun, the leader in charge of the national economy, came forward and personally affirmed Wufengxing's behavior and made an important instruction:
"If we do not study capitalism , we will suffer losses. If we do not study capitalism, we should not want to occupy the position we deserve in the world market."
In 1973, Chen Yun drafted a report to the Central Committee on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, "Report on the Issues of the Use of Commodity Exchanges in Import Work", suggesting that the Central Committee use exchanges in import and export trade.
After China Resources and his group returned to Hong Kong and conveyed Chen Yun's instructions, everyone's confidence increased. Zhu Jinchang, general manager of Wufengxing, recalled:
"Considering that it is beneficial to the country, it has not been put into our own pockets, do it."
It is precisely because of this successful cooperation that China not only deepened its cooperation with Kuo Henian in the sugar industry, but also appointed him as the general agent of Chinese cameras, pigments and refrigerators in Malaysia. Guo Henian also deepened his research on the mainland market and actively deployed it.
After the reform and opening up, China actively introduced foreign investment technology. Guo Henian seized the opportunity and chose to join in, continuing to contribute to the construction of the motherland.
"Our ancestral home is China. No matter where we are or what environment we are in, don't forget the root."
Picture | Guo Henian and his mother
Guo Henian always remembers what his parents said to him.
983, Guo Henian, Beijing Sijiqing Commune and Wugang Import and Export Corporation built the first Shangri-La Hotel in mainland China in Haidian District, Beijing.In 1985, Guo Henian decided to invest 500 million US dollars to cooperate with the Ministry of Economic and Trade in Beijing to build the " China International Trade Center ".
In fact, since the early 1980s, China decided to build a large landmark building outside the Jianguomen Gate in Chaoyang District, Beijing for international trade . Although many consortiums in the international community are willing to invest money, they have put forward quite harsh conditions, which has caused the project to be stranded for many years.
One day in 1984, Guo Henian's partner Lin Kai came hurriedly and told him the news:
"There is a big project outside the Jianguo Gate of Beijing. It is to be a window and a sign for the world. You can compete for this!"
Guo Henian shook his head:
"There must be a lot of people competing for such projects. If it is a Chinese, I will not participate."
"The problem is here!" Lin Kai said to him: "This is also the reason why I officially came to you to invite you."
Guo Henian found out after asking that the project was a US consortium and a Japanese bank.
"No, this project must be built by the Chinese themselves." Guo Henian stood up suddenly:
"We must be ambitious and not look down on us Chinese people... We Chinese should do this by ourselves. "
Picture | Guo Henian, his mother Zheng Geru and his elder brother Guo He
You should know that Guo Henian made this decision and never considered his own interests from the beginning to the end. At that time, outside the Jianguo Gate of Chaoyang District, Beijing was still desolate. Many people were not optimistic about this project and suggested that he should not invest, but Guo Henian sided with the public and insisted that he must invest.
Afterwards, Guo Henian found the Ministry of Foreign Trade and proposed that he could provide funds for the construction of Guomao Building .
Many years later, when talking about the construction of munitions building, Guo Henian said frankly:
"He said (it would cost) a lot of money, but I said it doesn't matter. I saved more than 100 million US dollars in Pangu Bank , just waiting for this opportunity. "
Guo Henian invested 530 million US dollars to develop Guomao , which was the largest investment in China at that time. The risks that Guo Henian took can be imagined. In order to build Guomao, Guo Henian also suspended his other projects, borrowed money from the bank, and invested all the funds in.
The development of the facts also proves Guo Henian's vision.
Deng Xiaoping: We are all guides
On September 1, 1985, the China International Trade Center held a groundbreaking ceremony. On August 31, 1990, the first phase of the Guomao project Completed.
After the completion of the first phase of the China Trade Project, Guo Henian continued to invest in the preparations for the second and third phases of the project. The third phase of the China Trade Project was completed on August 30, 2010. After the completion of the A-China Trade Project, it became the tallest building in Beijing at a height of 330 meters.
Picture | Guo Henian
In the late 1980s, in the face of the craze of foreign capital withdrawing from China, Guo Henian did not choose to leave. Instead, he invested billions of funds in China with an extremely clear business acumen.
990, During the of the Beijing Asian Games, Guo Henian also donated 2 million US dollars."Crisis is an opportunity. A businessman must remain sensitive and alert to the times. ”
Guo Henian's decades of efforts not only helped China build, but also received reports from it.
990, Deng Xiaoping made an exception and took 40 minutes to meet Guo Henian.You should know that after Deng Xiaoping retired, although many foreign guests visited China and asked to see him, Deng Xiaoping all asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stop him. Apart from meeting his old friend Kim Il-sung, the only one who could meet with him was Guo Henian.
Deng Xiaoping praised Guo Henian's great contribution to China's economic development and said to him: "You are the same as me, both the lead roles. "
" Compatriots from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and overseas Chinese are all descendants of the Chinese nation. We must work together to achieve national reunification and national rejuvenation. "
After many years, when Guo Henian recalled Deng Xiaoping's words, he still felt that his spoke concisely, but the meaning behind it was thought-provoking, and he was "the old man he respected the most."
Picture | Guo Henian shook hands with Deng Xiaoping
Now Guo Henian Kerry Group , investment is still spread all over the world, forming a huge business empire, spreading in various fields, which has a lot to do with Guo Henian's tireless efforts. Although he is old, he is getting older and stronger. In his words:
"Life has been seventy years old, which is the saying of the old society. Now 90 years old is rare, and life must have challenges. "
also because since the 1990s, Guo Henian has always been at the top of the rich list, so he is praised as:
"a giant that will never go bankrupt.”
It is worth mentioning that although Guo Henian’s assets are spread all over the world, a considerable proportion is in China, especially in Hong Kong. Even he himself has lived in Hong Kong for a long time. With the continuous achievements in China’s economic development, Guo Henian is also paying more and more attention to the development of the Chinese market.
In his later years, Guo Henian was an active advocate of public welfare.
Picture | Guo Henian
In January 2005, Guo Henian donated US$50 million to the China Youth Foundation, which hosted the "Hope Project", through Kerry Grain and Oil (China). Since this year, he has provided 600 to 800 yuan per student in poor families to help them complete their studies for five consecutive years.
In 2008, in the Wenchuan earthquake, Guo Henian donated 130 million yuan. html l4
In 2020, when the Wuhan epidemic occurred, Guo Henian donated another 30 million yuan.
Even though he has made remarkable achievements in the business field, especially in making great contributions to the construction of the motherland, Guo Henian is very low-key and rarely sees news about him in the media.
Although Guo Henian has a wealth of over 10 billion yuan, he is very simple in life. Every time he lives in his own fragrance for business, he lives under his own family. The Grira Hotel is also just living in ordinary rooms. When the eldest son Guo Kongcheng held his wedding, Guo Henian did not hold a big celebration. He only set up a few tables of banquets in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia to entertain relatives and friends. There are only 20 seats each time
Although Guo Henian's business is very large, he never likes the title of king given by others:
"This is a false name, I am a small businessman. "
Many people actually don't know that the famous blending oil brand " Golden Dragon Fish " belongs to Wilmar Kerry Golden Dragon Fish Grain and Oil Food Co., Ltd., and its founder is Guo Henian and his nephew Mr. Guo Kongfeng.
Since the last century, golden dragon fish has gradually become a must-have kitchen product for people. It is also with the increasing number of news reports in recent years, and people have become popular. Questioning the foreign brand of Jinlongyu, I unexpectedly discovered that the founder behind it is Guo Henian.
On A-share market, Jinlongyu's annual revenue is more than 170 billion yuan, but his net profit is only 5 billion yuan. Guo Henian has long expected this,
"My mother always tells me tirelessly that rice, sugar and all major commodities are indispensable foods for human survival, and I cannot make huge profits from it no matter what. Never be the culprit that pushes up the main food price, because the poor make a living by it. ”
Picture|In 2012, Guo Henian won the China Economic Person of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award
Guo Henian's spirit of never stopping throughout his life is admirable, and what is even more commendable is that the patriotic feelings of a generation of overseas Chinese are touching.
