Reflections on Chairman Ning Gaoning’s 10,000-word essay “Science Above All”: Rather than be a shooting star, strive to become a Welwitschia.

　　Recently, Pesticide The business environment for production and operations is far from optimistic; under mounting environmental regulatory pressure, it… Pesticide Corporate governance has been strengthened to an unprecedented degree, and the special campaign for chemical industry rectification has also… Pesticide Enterprises have found themselves at the center of public scrutiny, with entire chemical parks where they are located brought to a standstill. Under increasingly stringent policies, some have been shut down, others relocated, and still others, though having complied with environmental standards, have suffered severe setbacks and are now barely hanging on. The author has personally visited numerous… Pesticide Businesses, unable to envision the future, find themselves wondering how long they can survive, whether they will make it at all, and what lies ahead—often left utterly bewildered. Some company leaders have grown deeply discouraged, having abandoned any hope of fighting for survival and preparing instead for their enterprises to shut down—or even cease to exist. Others are clinging on, uncertain how much longer they can endure, with everything now seemingly left to fate. In today’s environment, simply staying afloat has become the challenge facing countless… Pesticide A company’s lofty aspiration.
　　Some research findings indicate that Chinese enterprises have short lifespans, averaging only 6 to 7 years, while private firms fare even worse, with an average lifespan of just 2.9 years. Over the past few years, Pesticide The number of short-lived companies in the industry is steadily rising, and “meteor‑shower” firms—those that rise quickly only to fade just as fast—are becoming increasingly common. Looking back, even some so‑called “good” companies around me have enjoyed a brief period of prominence for just two or three years. As a result, sustainable development has emerged as a major challenge for the sector. In the past, we often spoke of building century‑old enterprises—companies that would remain evergreen in their industries—but today, that aspiration remains profoundly relevant. After all, much like people, every business dreams of longevity; who wouldn’t want to endure for a hundred years, to become a truly enduring enterprise? Yet to reach that century‑long milestone, a company must possess the ability to adapt to an ever‑changing environment and continuously evolve.
　　In April 2018, Ning Gaoning, Chairman of Sinochem Group, published a ten-thousand-word essay titled “Science Above All,” which drew widespread attention and prompted deep reflection within the industry. After reading the entire piece, I was profoundly struck. Among its many insights, Chairman Ning offered a particularly thought‑provoking remark on corporate sustainability: “We often admire century‑old enterprises, yet what truly sets them apart is not their age, but their relentless pursuit of progress. Such enduring companies survive because they can adapt to changing environments, continuously evolving and transforming.” The key lies in that final sentence, which echoes Darwin’s theory of evolution: like organisms in the natural world, the crucial factor for businesses is their ability to adapt to environmental shifts and undergo ongoing evolution and metamorphosis.
　　I remember a few years ago, when a company invited me to give a lecture, I shared the story of the Welwitschia mirabilis in the Namib Desert. The Namib is one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world, stretching 2,100 kilometers along the southwestern Atlantic coast of Africa, from the border between Angola and Namibia to the Orange River. Divided by the Kuiseb River into two distinct regions, it features an immense sea of sand to the south and a rocky, gravelly plain to the north. Annual rainfall here rarely exceeds 25 millimeters, and sometimes not a single drop falls for several years. Only the occasional Atlantic storm brings five or six days of dense fog each month. One might imagine such a place to be a bleak, barren wasteland—yet right on that gravelly plain grows a remarkable plant: the Welwitschia mirabilis. As a species unique to the Namib, the Welwitschia’s roots are partly embedded deep in the sand and partly exposed on the surface. It bears a pair of leathery, strap‑like leaves that can grow over three meters long. Resembling both a pine cone and a green flower, its crown also bears bright red fruits reminiscent of goji berries. In the scorching desert heat, drought constantly threatens its survival. Lacking water, its broad, resilient leaves gradually wither, looking like tattered strips of cloth; under the blazing sun, relentless storms lash at it; and amid the desolate landscape, this steadfast plant still serves as food for animals. Under such harsh conditions, one would expect its life span to be fleeting, no more than a brief bloom—but instead, the facts are astonishing: the Welwitschia can live for as long as 2,000 years! Despite its extreme environment and seemingly dire circumstances, it manages to endure for millennia without succumbing to time.
　　The Welwitschia mirabilis of the desert, while inspiring awe, also prompts us to reflect on our present moment. Pesticide The harsh survival environment faced by enterprises has come to mind. Pesticide The issue of corporate longevity over a century. At present, Pesticide Enterprises are confronted with an extremely harsh, desert-like survival environment—let’s call it an economic desert for now. So, in this economic desert, we… Pesticide How can a company become a century-old enterprise? How can it ensure enduring success and sustainability? And how can it thrive like the Welwitschia mirabilis in an economic desert? These are the questions that countless entrepreneurs and industry leaders seek to address.
　　Before delving into these questions, let us return to the story of the Welwitschia plant and examine it closely: Why can the Welwitschia live for a thousand years in such an inhospitable environment? What is the secret behind its remarkable longevity?
　　In fact, through careful observation and research, scientists have discovered that the Welwitschia mirabilis can adapt to changing conditions, protect itself, and survive. Over thousands of years, countless plant species have perished in the desert, yet the Welwitschia has endured—evidence that it can adjust to environmental shifts, adapting to its surroundings and ensuring its own survival. To withstand the desert’s aridity, scant rainfall, and relentless wind and sun, most of the plant remains buried beneath the sand, with only a hard, woody disc—concave at its center—protruding above the surface. Two thick, strap‑like leaves grow from the edge of this disc, each reaching lengths of over two meters. These two leaves extend from… seed From the moment it germinates, it lives and dies alongside the plant, remaining attached for the entire lifespan without ever falling off or ceasing to grow. Another remarkable trait of the Welwitschia is its innovative metabolic strategy, which sets it apart from most plants. Its leaves can fix carbon dioxide even in complete darkness, while during the day their stomata remain closed, significantly reducing water loss. Yet another astonishing feature is its unwavering focus: unflappable, consistent, and steadfast throughout its life, never wavering. Once rooted in a single spot, it remains immobile for its entire existence; transplanting it will invariably lead to its death. Through the Welwitschia, we come to understand that, over the course of long-term evolution, it has honed an exceptional capacity for survival—adapting to change, innovating, and maintaining unwavering concentration. This is precisely why it can thrive for millennia in the arid deserts where it calls home.
　　For our enterprise, in today’s challenging environment where companies face myriad obstacles, adaptability, innovation, and focus remain the keys to growing into a “thousand-year-old tree”! No wonder this idea runs throughout Ning Gaoning, Chairman of Sinochem Group’s, extensive 10,000‑character essay. First and foremost, adaptability and resilience are the secrets to an enterprise’s enduring vitality. As Ning Gaoning puts it: “Running a business is like driving through fog—there are countless unknowns, and even under identical conditions, some firms succeed while others fail. When we gather today to discuss heroes and review the successes of the past, one fundamental common trait emerges: when the external environment undergoes major shifts, corporate leaders demonstrate sufficient acumen and courage to steer their organizations toward significant strategic realignments at the right moment—breaking free from outdated models and embarking on new paths of development. Such examples abound. And if we broaden our perspective to examine the rise and fall of the world’s great corporate empires, we find that their trajectories mirror those of historical dynasties—evoking both awe and deep reflection.” From this, it becomes clear that proactive adaptation and bold responses to change—not passive compliance—are the prerequisites for achieving lasting longevity. By aligning with prevailing trends and continuously enhancing operational capabilities, companies can cultivate the “strategic wisdom” necessary to endure for centuries. In practice, some enterprises, confronted with harsh conditions, have steadfastly driven transformation and restructuring, dismantling all systems, mechanisms, policies, and processes that no longer support their goals, and building new value‑creation frameworks in their place—yielding impressive results. In fact, what truly threatens a company is not an adverse environment, but the loss of the drive for self‑revolution and innovative change—succumbing to the status quo, becoming stagnant, and losing efficiency. Ning Gaoning further observes: “The stark reality of corporate development over the past two decades is that the ever‑accelerating pace of external change demands that even companies entrenched in traditional industries undertake strategic shifts or upgrades within as little as five years—or at most ten. Otherwise, they risk being left behind by competitors and the market. Consequently, strategic reassessment and transformative innovation have become nonstop responsibilities for senior management. If we aspire to build century‑old enterprises, it is important to recognize that such longevity does not mean standing still; rather, it means sustaining robust vitality through continuous innovation and upgrading—remaining vibrant well beyond a hundred years. A close look at the histories of successful centenarian firms reveals that most have undergone multiple rounds of strategic transformation and innovative evolution. Thus, a truly enduring enterprise always harbors a persistent entrepreneurial spirit, an inexhaustible capacity for innovation, and agile, responsive mechanisms—these are the very forces that fuel its ongoing growth and expansion, adding layer upon layer to its legacy.”
　　What does a company need to achieve enduring success? Innovation and focus—without haste or restlessness. The primary reasons for the short lifespans of Chinese enterprises are: a lack of clear strategy, chaotic management, and an impatient, impulsive entrepreneurial mindset. These factors have led many Chinese firms to “shine brightly for just two or three years.” Particularly troubling is the absence of social responsibility and the prevalence of a restless, short‑term‑oriented mentality among entrepreneurs. Some companies simply fail to stay focused: today they spot a promising opportunity, so they jump in; tomorrow, another product or industry looks lucrative, and they pivot again. This impulsiveness often drives entrepreneurs to pursue quick gains, prioritizing short‑term profits while neglecting long‑term interests, disregarding fundamental business principles, and underestimating the latent risks of violating those principles. Such behavior is precisely what causes so many businesses to wither prematurely. In short, the fleeting nature of many Chinese enterprises is closely tied to entrepreneurs’ insufficient awareness of the risks inherent in sustaining a business over the long term. In my view, Chinese companies must overcome their tendency toward restlessness and embrace unwavering focus—devoting themselves wholeheartedly to a single pursuit, mastering it, and seeing it through to the end. They must cultivate the spirit to resist temptation, refuse to yield in the face of setbacks, and press forward with courage. Only then can they become the resilient, centuries‑old succulents that endure in the economic desert.
　　Of course, the spirit of the Welwitschia mirabilis—adaptation, flexibility, innovation, and focus—must be further cultivated and carried forward in practice. As we strive to build a company with enduring success, we should pay particular attention to the following aspects: First, focus does not mean stubbornly sticking to one’s own way. Second, we must wholeheartedly cultivate the enterprise’s core values and foster a strong corporate culture. A closer look at Chinese companies reveals that very few have truly established a coherent corporate philosophy. Even when some firms do articulate their guiding principles, these often remain superficial or fail to translate into everyday behaviors for both the organization and its employees. The formation of a company’s core philosophy and values is a gradual, sedimentary process. Determining which core ideas and values can effectively steer the company’s development and gain genuine acceptance from employees is, in fact, a long‑term journey of exploration. Third, adaptability and innovation must go hand in hand, enabling the enterprise to continuously enrich its substance in step with the times. Just as individuals in today’s information age must constantly update their knowledge to keep pace with rapid change, so too must companies respond to evolving circumstances and shifting consumer needs by promptly reinventing their brand’s essence, infusing it with content that is more contemporary and vibrant, and thereby cultivating in consumers the positive impression: “Time may fly, but the brand endures.” Fourth, articulating a clear corporate vision is a crucial component of building a “Welwitschia‑like” enterprise. Whether it involves researching foreign markets, recruiting international talent, or developing overseas distribution channels, such ambitious aspirations energize the entire organization, imbuing it with a dynamic, forward‑looking vitality.

Source: Penglai Municipal Bureau of Economy and Informatization, Shandong Province Author: Han Yongqi Editor: xwbj1