With a heavy heart, we deeply mourn the passing of Mr. Zong Qinghou. He was an outstanding representative of the Chinese canning industry and a pride and model for our sector. His departure has left us without a highly respected industry leader and a steadfast supporter.

Mr. Zong Qinghou, the founder and chairman of the Wahaha Group, transformed a school-run factory into a globally renowned large-scale food and beverage enterprise over 37 years, making significant contributions to national economic construction and social development. He quickly revitalized the Hangzhou Canning Factory using financial and product advantages, turning its 40 million yuan loss into profit in just three months, creating a miracle in the history of China's economy. Under his leadership, Wahaha developed the canned eight-treasure porridge with longan and lotus seeds, which became beloved by consumers of all ages and synonymous with eight-treasure porridge in the hearts of the Chinese people. To this day, guided by Mr. Zong's spirit of bold innovation, Wahaha's porridge can series continues to evolve and expand, establishing a product matrix of porridge canned foods and becoming a remarkable example of innovation in China's canning industry. Mr. Zong also served as the first president of the Zhejiang Canned Food Industry Association and is a recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the China Canned Food Industry Association. He was a leader in the Chinese canning industry, leading our industry through challenges and opening up new horizons.

With his exceptional leadership abilities, visionary strategic perspective, and relentless fighting spirit, Mr. Zong made outstanding contributions to the development of the Chinese canning industry. His life was a history of continuous struggle for the rise and growth of China's canning industry, embodying an infinite love and loyalty to the Chinese canning industry.

He always adhered to the principle of "quality first, customer supreme," committed to improving the product quality and brand image of China's canning industry. He advocated for technological innovation and promoted industrial upgrading, making the Chinese canning industry shine on the international stage.

The passing of Mr. Zong Qinghou is a great loss to the Chinese canning industry. His personal charm, professional spirit, and noble character will forever inspire us in the industry to overcome obstacles and move forward.

Here, we express our deepest condolences and respect to Mr. Zong Qinghou and extend our sincere sympathies to his family. May he rest in peace, and may his spirit forever inspire all of us in the canning industry to continue moving forward, holding onto our beliefs, and striving for new heights.