Wenzhou Shoes Are Detained In Russia, Restaurants In France Are Blocked Overseas, Wenzhou Businessmen Don'T Believe In Tears

November 07 - yesterday, when the reporter called Li Guobo, a Wenzhou businessman who was far away in Moscow, he said that he was wearing a thick winter coat and holding a flashlight to inspect the warehouse. He was left alone in such a large factory. He stops and stares at the corner of the warehouse, which is empty. A month ago, he was lying in a pile of shoes to sell. Now, there is nothing. " Li Guobo, 40, began selling shoes in Moscow in 2002, and his shop is in the Astai wholesale market in Moscow. On the evening of September 11, Russian authorities raided the Astai market on the pretext of cracking down on "gray customs clearance", and seized goods worth about 2.1 billion US dollars from Chinese merchants. Among them, more than 400 merchants in Wenzhou had shoes with a value of about 1 billion dollars. This is undoubtedly another cold shock to Wenzhou shoe leather industry. Shortly after that, news came that the restaurant of local Wenzhou merchants in France was closed for no reason, while a Wenzhou couple who opened a factory in Italy came home late at night and was beaten by local people Wenzhou businessmen, who are working overseas, are a group of heavy colors in China's wealth history. Facing the wave of attacks in the global financial crisis, they hold their wealth in their hands, but their anxiety is clearly written on their faces: "what should we do in the face of difficulties?" Li Guobo, a Wenzhou businessman in Russia: his shoes are buckled he can't sleep every night more than a month ago, Li Guobo was accused of "gray customs clearance", the warehouse was seized by Russian police, and more than 1 million yuan of goods were detained. In order to make a living, he can only set up a stall on the road every day, selling the last remaining shoes in the store. Li Guobo was very anxious about whether the seized shoes could be returned. "I can't sleep every night. I stare at TV and newspapers all day long, hoping for a new turn in this matter." In the early 1990s, China and Russia began to import a large number of cheap goods. However, Russian customs clearance procedures are cumbersome and customs duties are chaotic. In order to encourage imports and simplify customs procedures, the Russian Customs Committee allows "customs clearance" companies to handle import business on behalf of cargo owners. These companies work with customs officials to clear the entire aircraft in the form of parcel consignment duties, which are more than half of the normal customs duties. This kind of customs clearance was later extended to sea, rail and automobile transportation, which was called "gray customs clearance" as opposed to regular customs clearance. Li Guobo said that when the goods are transported into Russia, a customs clearance company is required, and a container should be delivered to the customs clearance company for us $560000. Speaking of the customs clearance, Li Guobo felt aggrieved. "We paid so much money, why do we still say" gray customs clearance " On October 16, a discussion meeting on Wenzhou shoe leather industry in response to the seizure of Russian Astai market was held. Representatives of more than 200 Wenzhou shoe enterprises crowded the venue in the hotel. The most discussed topic was how to avoid similar incidents in the future. Now the Russian Ministry of Commerce has sent a person to Wenzhou to investigate the incident. But now, everything needs to wait. Zhang Zhongsu, a Wenzhou businessman in Italy: no one sympathizes with you your tears Zhang Zhongsu went to work in France in the early 1980s. He started as a dishwasher at the bottom, and now he is the owner of three restaurants and a bar. He has experienced almost all the ups and downs of Wenzhou people in foreign countries. My first job was to work in a Chinese restaurant. I've done everything, sweeping the floor, washing the toilet, washing the dishes. As long as it's a job, I'll do it. " Zhang Zhongsu said. Do you know that when I encounter setbacks and discrimination, my tears always flow backwards. Because the day is too tired, too busy, even sad time, only at night lying in bed will shed tears, tears along the corner of his eyes. Then tell yourself that in a foreign country, no one will sympathize with your tears. Only fighting is the only way to save yourself. " Zhang Zhongsu said At that time, he had thought of returning to China, but he knew better that once this road was started, there would be no chance to go back. "I don't know French. Many people from Wenzhou who go abroad can't speak foreign languages, so we know how to work hard. At that time, the French described us as: Chinese people hold a computer in their hands and can only press buttons," Zhang said In 1989, he and his wife went to Italy to make a living. Two years later, he opened his first restaurant with the money he had saved, but his life was still very hard. Italian workers had to pay a head tax. In order to save money, they opened a couple's shop. The cook was alone, and his wife was outside to welcome guests. At the end of the day, he had to cook for more than 200 guests. His hands were numb because he kept cooking. Mr. Zhang has been working in Wenzhou for 10 years. Zhang Zhongsu said: "there is no sense of identity and belonging abroad, and we also want to integrate into the local people. However, our generation is not very concerned about politics, and has been divorced from the mainstream society for a long time, so we can not get the corresponding security guarantee. In a real sense, we have a foothold overseas, and we place our hope on the next generation. " introspection: change the dilemma start from being yourself Zhang Zhongsu's words are the common aspiration of the first generation of Wenzhou businessmen working overseas. After graduating from the Foreign Language Department of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Zhang Zhongsu's son has already started to run his own bar in Italy. "He has language advantages, a strong sense of identity with the local culture, and a strong adaptability. Now, he has his own friends, social circles and networks in the local area." The only way for Chinese and Wenzhou businessmen to change their overseas cultural status is to see the foreign businessmen in other countries change their social security. Wenzhou municipal government officials said that under the impact of the economic crisis, Wenzhou businessmen have been treated badly overseas. Although they have strong support from the motherland, Wenzhou businessmen must also reflect on how to strengthen self-discipline and improve their own quality, which is the basis for Wenzhou businessmen to win respect and protect their own rights and interests overseas. Besides paying taxes consciously and abiding by local laws and customs, regurgitation is also a way to be accepted by local society Zhu Zengxiang, general manager of Italy Xianglong trade import and export company, said that many Wenzhou businessmen in Italy have begun to increase their investment in local public welfare undertakings. It is hoped that such active feedback will help ease ethnic conflicts caused by economic competition. All these are the hope for the overseas Wenzhou businessmen to break through the survival dilemma.