On September 16, 1990, when the first whistle of "Jinqiao" wheel rang in the early autumn morning, Weihai ancestors started trade with South Korea step by step. A large number of people with an open vision extend the vision of Weihai, a small coastal city, with the enthusiasm of "looking at the world". Gao Suqian, the chairman of Shandong hanweiyuan group, is also among the vast trade army to South Korea.

From a rural boy working in the city to a billionaire, Gao Suqian has gone from retail to wholesale and then to production. He has experienced the glory of hundreds of thousands of yuan per day and the tribulation of millions of yuan per day. The ups and downs of his life are closely related to the cold and hot trade between China and South Korea. Today, the national "one belt and one way" strategy has taken his vision further to Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States, and also to the level and level of Weihai's open economy.

Weihai, from "the world of prestige" to "the world of prestige", is constantly opening up a new situation in the reform and opening up, achieving a new leap, and moving forward from an open city to an international city.

A ship opens the door to a city

Weihai, located at the eastern end of Jiaodong Peninsula, was first built in the first year of Yongle (1403) in the Ming Dynasty, which means "the four seas of awe".

On June 15, 1987, with the approval of the State Council, Weihai City was upgraded to a prefecture level city. At this time, the wave of reform and opening up has been surging. Weihai, which is waiting for prosperity, urgently needs to embark on the ship of reform and opening up.

How to solve the problem of reform and opening up? At the beginning of the city building, the leading group focused on a wide range of South Korea and put forward the strategy of "taking advantage of Han Xingwei", hoping to realize the navigation between China and South Korea by virtue of geographical advantages and knock on the door of opening up of Weihai.

In terms of geographical location, the straight-line distance from Weihai to Incheon, South Korea is only 93 nautical miles, which is even closer than that from Weihai to Dalian. If there is a sea route, it is equivalent to opening a sea channel to attract investment from South Korea.

Although we all know that this route will be the "key" to open up Weihai, the reality before us is extremely cruel. First of all, China and South Korea have not yet established diplomatic relations. Even if air routes are opened, they can only be operated by means of private transportation. Secondly, the competitors that target China and South Korea are Tianjin, Qingdao, Yantai and other large and medium-sized cities, while Weihai, which has just built a city, is still a small county in scale, not even a shipping company.

After more than two years of efforts, a passenger and cargo liner named "Golden Bridge" finally made its first voyage. At this time, time has entered the early autumn of 1990.

The first voyage of "Golden Bridge" rewrites the history of Weihai's opening up, but what real benefits can it bring? At that time, it was hard to measure, but what we can see is that Korean enterprises began to flow into Weihai rapidly, from several to more than 300 in just two or three years.

In 1992, China and South Korea formally established diplomatic relations, and the exchanges between the two countries were carried out in politics, economy, culture, science and technology, education, tourism and other fields. The discerning people realize that every Korean enterprise and Korean entering into Weihai is a trade line, and the fate of many people has changed unconsciously, including a poor boy who came to Weihai from Rushan village to work.

The youth of a man and a city start together

In the spring of 1992, Gao Suoqian, who had not finished reading in senior high school, was only 18 years old. With a bed cover roll and a washbasin on his back, he got on the bus to Weihai from his hometown of Rushan. At that time, Gao's ideal was to "earn some money", because he was already a laborer in his family. "He could not eat idle food and was unwilling to plant land."

At that time, Weihai was a small city with a population of only tens of thousands, and it didn't even have the basic conditions to become a "city". The railway was just under construction, and there was no airport, not even a few tall buildings. From the area of the most prosperous department store in the city, you can walk into farmland, orchard, reed marsh in any direction. At that time, a ballad was still circulating in Weihai: "one street, one lamp, one loudspeaker, one police officer, one family, one fish, one fishy city..."

"Now I remember that there was nothing at that time. But at that time, I thought it was a very prosperous city. " Gao Suqian said that he was a machine tool worker at first, and his salary during his apprenticeship was 30 yuan a month. "I can't afford anything. Watching others spend money, I think the life of the city people is very good."

After working as a machine tool worker for more than two years, his salary has risen to two or three hundred yuan a month. Gao's situation has not changed much. "The most prosperous place is the lotus Bay (now around Weigao Square). There are stalls selling clothes everywhere. In a building to the north of the big world, there are all clothing shops, all of which are ties, T-Shirts, cardigans and suits wholesale from South Korea... " Gao Suqian's thoughts go back to more than 20 years ago, "those clothes are all carried by the belt workers from South Korea. One tie costs more than 100 yuan, double the money I have no capital, and I only want to earn money from others. "

It wasn't until 1996 that Gao Suoqian cobbled together 3000 yuan to borrow, and then made a 7000 yuan note, bought a worn-out 130 truck, started the delivery business, and since then opened another door of life changing. "Now, it's entrepreneurship. But my family thinks it's not business. " Gao Suqian's move was not only criticized by the whole family in a meeting, but also denounced as a "bastard" by his relatives and friends. "They think the best choice is to work as a contract worker in the factory."

Running freight didn't earn money, and he couldn't afford a new car. Gao Suqian's freight career ended in two years, "the biggest harvest was that he knew a lot of people at that time, many of them were making a lot of money in Korean clothing."

Around 1998, when Weihai was rapidly moving towards a modern city, Taowei railway was completed, Weihai International Airport was opened, a number of routes to South Korea were opened, one tall building rose from the urban area, and one street extended further. At this time, Korean enterprises are blooming everywhere in Weihai, a large number of Koreans live in Weihai, and Korean culture and local culture blend. "At that time, all the shop signs in the street were in Chinese and Korean. The high-end ones plus English made Korean people everywhere."

It was also in 1998 that Gao Suqian first set up an edge with the trade with South Korea, although his shop was only a 10 meter long wall. "I'm afraid an old man of ours is embarrassed to sell Korean lingerie, so he hired a woman as a salesman. I'm in charge of carrying goods at the wharf." But the business only lasted for a few months, and then Gao turned to selling belts. "It's still from South Korea. This time, it's really making money." Although he has made money, the so-called "Korean purchase" does not mean that he has done business with Koreans. The source of goods is still the goods shipped by passenger liner. He only goes to wholesale and retail.

Time soon entered the 21st century, China's economy is accelerating and accelerating, Weihai is no exception. With the capital, Gao Suqian also set out to open up a wider world. This choice has completely changed the fate of Gao Suqian.

An inborn drive and a one size fits all business

Gao Suoqian said that his mind is not flexible, but he has the courage that Jiaodong people are born with. This kind of bravery can be called aggressive in business.

"There are people lining up to buy Korean food everywhere in Weisheng commercial building, Haigang building and Haigang wharf. I think it's profitable to lie down in this line." Around 2001, after discovering that Korean food was very popular, Gao Suoqian didn't think much about it any more, and decided to change his business again. At that time, he had two stores in friendship mall and Weisheng commercial building, and his business was booming.

This time, instead of being a retailer as before, he became a wholesaler. Wholesale means a large supply of goods. That year, after many inquiries, Gao Suoqian found the first batch of goods from Lianyungang and "pulled a container of goods from there." After that, the business was unexpectedly booming. "It's just like lying on your back to earn money. When you stop the truck at the side of the road and make a few phone calls, someone will empty it."

In those years, Gao Suqian was busy delivering goods everywhere, and there were more and more customers. "I feel like I've made a lot of money with all my pockets full of cash." It wasn't until he met Sue around 2008 that he realized he was just making some hard money.

In 2008, Weihai has become the largest distribution center of Korean goods in China, and all kinds of Korean goods such as food, daily chemicals, clothing, etc. flock to Weihai every day.

When he first met Su, Gao didn't care about the young man in his 20s. At this time, Gao Suqian was already a veteran of the Korean food wholesale industry, while Xiao Su was a famous orderer from Guangzhou. Sitting in the coffee shop and chatting with each other for a long time, Su was very approbated of Gao Suqian's character and ability. He called Gao Suqian "elder brother Gao" and proposed to order 300000 yuan of goods. At that time, 300000 yuan was still a large amount for Gao Suqian. He did not believe that Xiao Su would be so generous. A few days later, Gao Suoqian received a deposit of 300000 yuan. "When I receive the money, I have to give it to others, but where can I get so many goods?" Gao Suoqian was a bit foolish at that time. Although he wanted to be a higher level wholesaler and tried to contact Korean wholesalers everywhere in the golf course, everything was still in the imagination.

This time, Gao showed his pioneering spirit. He carried 50000 yuan of cash to Incheon, South Korea. A Korean word does not know, a Korean word does not know, but he still found a way, Incheon has a large number of Chinese Korean workers, Gao Suqian just through a Korean girl who works in a restaurant to do translation, and then through the restaurant owner to contact a very famous local food wholesaler.

The South Korean wholesaler admired Gao Suo Qian's courage to go to the meeting alone. When Gao Suo Qian put 50000 yuan of cash on the negotiation table to make a deposit, the business was completed. A few days later, a container of Korean food from Incheon arrived in Weihai, and then was transferred to Guangzhou.

"At that time, the devaluation of the won was severe, which was very beneficial to our Chinese businessmen, or even a huge profit." Although Gao Suoqian only registered a small company at that time, he felt that he could make hundreds of thousands a day at most because of several businesses. I go to drink with my Korean boss every day. I can spend 50000 yuan a night. "

Soon after, Gao Suqian's trip to Guangzhou made him realize that he was just a "rural bear". In Guangzhou, he found that brother Su, who was eating a two yuan box meal, was actually a billionaire. He even helped him carry a woven bag of cash to the bank to save money. Only when he got to the bank did he know that it was 3 million yuan. Xiao Su told Gao Suqian frankly that he knew about the devaluation of the won, but he didn't propose to reduce the price because he believed that Gao Suqian was a big brother with integrity and justice.

When Gao Suoqian returned to Weihai, he immediately did one thing: "he sent two containers of goods to Xiao Su without money. I owe it to others. "

Xiao Su's words made Gao Suqian think for a long time, "since then, he is no longer a upstart, low-key life, high-key work." Gao Suqian also realized that if the business wants to be bigger, it must open up the domestic market and "have more customers like Xiao Su".

Gao Suoqian's single Sabre to the meeting brought him a chance to change his life. In that turbulent era, there were many Weihai people like him. They went back and forth between Weihai and South Korea with a rush, and thousands of trading companies with South Korea emerged. Weihai was full of South Korean wind.

A person, an enterprise, a city and a country share weal and woe

In 2009, Weihai hanweiyuan Trade Co., Ltd., the predecessor of Shandong hanweiyuan group, was established. Since then, Gao Suqian's business has soared to the sky. "I always can't remember things in that period, sometimes I can't remember them clearly, because I was too busy in those years." The bigger the business is, the more brilliant the company has been for six years and three times, "the more the facade is changed, the more the factory and warehouse are rented."

In the next few years, Gao Suqian was busy sleeping for only three hours a day. Hanweiyuan not only became the general agent of many famous Korean brands in China, but also registered the brand of "hanmeihe" in Korea, and cooperated with many famous Korean factories to build factories in Korea. When business is good, they can earn hundreds of thousands of yuan a day. They have been interviewed by KBS TV station in South Korea and received by key officials of the South Korean government. Similarly, in order to seize the market, wholesalers fight a price war. Gao Suqian also suffered a day of compensation of 1 million yuan, which lasted for half a year. "Some people say that the market competition was fierce. During that time, it was another one Words - tragic! "

On June 1, 2015, the governments of China and South Korea formally signed the China South Korea free trade agreement, which came into force on December 20 of the same year. Weihai City and Incheon free economic zone, as the local economic cooperation demonstration zones of the two countries, play a role of demonstration and guidance. The favorable tariff reduction and market opening have promoted Weihai's trade with South Korea to continue to grow rapidly. At the same time, "Internet +" has taken the wings of take-off for enterprises, and more and more trade has been transferred from offline to online, and more and more orders are coming. In 2016, Weihai's total import and export to South Korea reached 32.84 billion yuan.

In 2015, Han Weiyuan moved to chucun Town, gaoqu District, with a larger area of office buildings and warehouses. Sitting in a spacious and bright office, overlooking the whole plant area, Gao Suqian often thought of the scene when he went to work in Weihai with his back covered. "It's only 20 years, and the change is so fast that I can't believe it's true."

From time to time, the market economy shows its ferocious nature. In the spring of 2017, a large number of Chinese people boycotted Korean products, freezing the trade between China and South Korea overnight. "Fifty or sixty containers of goods are overstocked in the warehouse and cannot be sold for half a year." "What's more, a large number of customers cancel orders and resell food from other countries, and we even lose customers," Gao said

This year, hanweiyuan's business almost stagnated. This year, the situation forced Gao to rethink. The result of reflection is that "one cannot hang from a tree".

This year, the total import and export volume of Weihai's total goods was 140 billion 500 million yuan, an increase of 17.8%, and the trade volume of the countries along the belt and road grew by 26%, and the dependence on foreign trade reached 40.3%, which was 15.8 percentage points higher than that of the whole province.

Since 2018, Gao Suqian has incorporated many of his companies into a comprehensive group company, officially transforming from an import and export-oriented trading company into an integrated group company integrating production, sales and import and export. At the same time, the group began to shift its strategy and explore the markets in Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States. "One belt and one road brings a broader space for enterprises to develop." Gao Suqian said, "although this year is just the beginning, I am no longer a pure Korean food here. There are foods in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Turkey and other countries. In the future, there will be food production bases in Germany, Britain and the United States. By the end of the year, Rushan's food production base will also be put into production."

Today, at least 130 million yuan of Korean goods are sold to the whole country through Weihai every day. Through the tunnel of time, the four words "trade with South Korea" connect the youth of this city. With the deepening of the opening up, Weihai City has put forward the opening concept of "all outside Weihai is outside", implemented the strategy of "city internationalization", stridded forward from the open city to the international city, expanded the opening up in a wider range, a wider field and a higher level, and gradually constructed a multi-level opening pattern facing the world, so as to make Weihai connect with the world in a high-spirited way Weihai is "all over the world".

In recent years, Weihai City has actively adapted to the global economic development and changes in the macro situation, vigorously promoted the construction of local economic cooperation demonstration zones in the China South Korea Free Trade Zone, and constantly improved the level and level of the open economy, which has given a strong impetus to the sustainable economic development. At present, it has trade relations with 200 countries and regions, and its dependence on foreign trade has been maintained at more than 30% for many years since it reached 30.0% in 1996.