Interview with National People's Congress Representative and Gree Electric Appliances Chairman Dong Mingzhu: Does Not Endorse Entrepreneurs Creating Personal IP for Self-Promotion; Entrepreneur IP is a Responsibility Guarantee to Consumers

Everyday Economic News Reporter | Zhang Rui Zhou Yifei
Everyday Economic News Editor | Dong Xing Sheng

“Intelligence” is a hot word at this year’s Two Sessions.

This year’s Government Work Report explicitly proposes to create a new form of intelligent economy. It emphasizes deepening and expanding “Artificial Intelligence +”, promoting the rapid adoption of next-generation intelligent terminals and agents, encouraging large-scale commercialization of AI in key industries, and cultivating new business models and formats rooted in intelligence.

How to understand “intelligent economy”? How to view “machine replacing human”? How can policies for old-to-new upgrades be optimized to truly activate the stock market? What standards should a regulated second-hand home appliance market establish? How to view the relationship between entrepreneurs’ personal IP and corporate branding? How can we transform from a “world factory” into a “world brand”?

Focusing on these questions, during the National Two Sessions, Daily Economic News (hereinafter NBD) conducted on-site interviews with NPC Deputy and Gree Electric Appliances Chairman Dong Mingzhu.

In the interview, Dong Mingzhu affirmed the positive role of AI, believing that intelligence greatly improves factory efficiency, but also firmly stated: “AI is fundamentally a tool; it can never replace humans.” While she agrees that intelligent development is the direction, she does not think all enterprises, big or small, with different circumstances, need to pursue automation.

AI is fundamentally a tool that can never replace humans

NBD: This year’s Government Work Report mentions creating a new form of intelligent economy. “Intelligent economy” is written into the government report for the first time. How do you understand “intelligent economy”?

Dong Mingzhu: Regarding the intelligent economy, the hottest topic now is AI. But I believe, AI is fundamentally a tool. As technology develops, tools will become more flexible, but they can never replace humans. Currently, we apply AI in production and products, but initial design still relies on human effort. During product iterations, AI can achieve specific functions, such as air conditioners equipped with AI systems that can learn and explore patterns over time, then optimize and recombine them. These are possible directions.

NBD: The government report proposes expanding intelligent manufacturing, building new smart factories and smart supply chains. We know Gree’s Jinwan intelligent manufacturing factory was selected as one of the first pilot-level smart factories. From your observation, what impact or changes has an intelligent factory brought to manufacturing enterprises?

Dong Mingzhu: For us, mainly efficiency has improved. Take our final assembly and integration workshop as an example: a 480-meter-long outdoor unit production line that traditionally required over 70 workers now only needs about 20. But equipment and robots still need operators; the work has simply changed. So, machines do not replace humans entirely; humans still have jobs.

Gree Smart Manufacturing Factory Photo Source: Company Provided

NBD: Are the reduced workers transferred to other positions?

Dong Mingzhu: Staff adjustments are mainly based on actual company needs. For example, the screw-driving job no longer exists. Also, welders—there used to be specialized welding exams with high technical requirements—are now replaced by machines. These workers need to transition into equipment management roles.

NBD: In the wave of manufacturing automation, how do you think enterprises and the government should collaborate to alleviate employment anxiety caused by “machine replacing human”?

Dong Mingzhu: I think there’s no need to deliberately resolve it. The development of enterprises itself requires automation; it’s a major trend and direction. But having this direction doesn’t mean all enterprises, big or small, with different circumstances, must pursue automation. I even see some changes in daily life, like coffee shops using robots to serve coffee, replacing waitstaff. I believe, in service sectors, people are still more desired than machines. Because machines are cold; they lack emotion. Long-term, this kind of interaction can make people less emotional.

Currently, many automated household appliances still lack precision

NBD: Gree’s diversification has always attracted attention—from mobile phones to chips, and now to CNC machines and silicon carbide chips. When planning these sectors, what considerations guided you?

Dong Mingzhu: We have this idea from the start. The development of intelligence is systematic; it can’t rely on just one converter to define it. I believe it’s more about researching direct connectivity between objects and between people and objects.

Take chips as an example: we develop chips because household appliances rely on a large number of chips, and technological upgrades are closely related to chips. If we have to buy all chips, what about independent innovation? We would always be behind others. So, we started a full-chain layout for chips early on, covering design, manufacturing, and packaging.

In the future, our chip usage will continue to grow, with the ultimate goal of full independence and control. Only by mastering key core technologies can we serve the world. We don’t need to rely on others; instead, we want to empower others. That’s how a company’s value is reflected.

NBD: Gree has announced it will continue to focus on the development of household service robots. With Gree’s deep understanding of home scenarios, what is the first “pain point” that your ideal Gree-made household service robot should solve? Is it cleaning, cooking, or elderly companionship? How will it coordinate with Gree’s existing “Healthy Home” full-house smart ecosystem?

Dong Mingzhu: Robot vacuum cleaners have been around for a while. To be more precise in solving household pain points, continuous technological upgrades are needed. In fact, many so-called automated household appliances are still not perfect; their service is not precise enough, and technology needs to keep improving. Gree has launched products like vacuum cleaners and dust collectors, but we hope to make all appliances as well-known as air conditioners, to go beyond China and become global brands.

Image Source: Daily Economic News Reporter Chen Pengli

Resolving second-hand home appliance market issues requires firm resolve

NBD: The government report on the 2026 government work tasks mentions allocating 250 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special bonds to support the replacement of old consumer goods, emphasizing “optimizing policy implementation mechanisms.” How do you view the shift this year from “expanding coverage” to “improving quality”? How can policies be optimized to truly activate the home appliance stock market?

Dong Mingzhu: In recent years, the home appliance market has shifted from an “incremental” era to an era emphasizing both “incremental and stock.” The overall ownership and scrapping rates are huge. But I believe, policies alone can’t move the stock market. More importantly, market regulation must be strengthened to ensure policies are effectively implemented, preventing some opportunists from profiting through falsehoods or tricks—that’s the key.

NBD: You proposed “standardizing the second-hand home appliance market” this year. We notice that many second-hand appliances are refurbished and resold, which poses safety risks. What are your thoughts on this?

Dong Mingzhu: The government has invested heavily and spent a lot to stimulate consumption. But when old units are refurbished and re-enter the market after subsidies, it’s effectively two units, not expanding the market but possibly reducing demand for new appliances.

NBD: What standards should a well-regulated second-hand home appliance market establish?

Dong Mingzhu: To govern the second-hand market, we must be resolute: either ban second-hand markets altogether or establish strict testing agencies to ensure each product meets standards. Otherwise, the impact of the second-hand market can be destructive, posing safety risks to consumers. Consumers may see the lower price but overlook safety and health issues—refurbished appliances often use chemical agents for cleaning, and residual toxins can harm health.

NBD: As a manufacturer, has Gree considered establishing an official second-hand circulation or traceability system?

Dong Mingzhu: Actually, we have a second-hand home appliance recycling platform called “Mingzhu Green Ring Recycling.” It’s part of our autonomous practice of extended producer responsibility. We’ve built a “green design—green manufacturing—green recycling” circular development model, providing consumers with integrated services for delivery, installation, and collection, achieving green, circular, and sustainable development.

A sound recycling system for old appliances can improve the convenience of replacement, promote resource recycling, and support high-quality industry development and the “dual carbon” goals.

Currently, Gree has established 6 recycling bases nationwide. By the end of 2025, Gree has processed over 73.31 million discarded electrical appliances and electronic products, converting them into recycled copper, iron, aluminum, and plastics totaling about 1.0598 million tons. Using the latest energy-saving and carbon-reduction standards, Gree’s resource recycling has reduced CO2 emissions by 1.3509 million tons.

Disagree with entrepreneurs creating IP solely for self-promotion

NBD: One of your suggestions this year is “promoting coordinated development of online and offline commerce.” On March 6, at the economic-themed press conference, Minister Wang Wentao of the Ministry of Commerce mentioned that during the Spring Festival, offline physical consumption growth surpassed online for the first time in recent years, driven by activities like “LeGou New Year.” We know Gree has undergone channel reforms over the years. What role do you see online and offline channels playing?

Dong Mingzhu: I believe a city must have a vibrant scene—storefronts thriving. Without stores, it becomes increasingly cold and impersonal. Such environments make society cold, with less life and fewer interactions.

NBD: Do you have any suggestions for the coordinated development of online and offline channels?

Dong Mingzhu: We need to integrate online and offline channels to fundamentally solve this issue. That’s why Gree now has “Dong Mingzhu Healthy Home,” where consumers can visit “Healthy Home” stores to play, interact, experience, and purchase, and also place orders online for pickup at stores.

Dong Mingzhu Healthy Home Image Source: Company Provided

NBD: Over the years, you have become Gree’s most distinctive IP. Your frankness and resilience are well known. In this era of fragmented information and influencer economy, how do you view the relationship between an entrepreneur’s personal IP and corporate branding?

Dong Mingzhu: If we can reshape consumers’ perception of Gree’s appliances, then I think the name “Dong Mingzhu” is most meaningful. Because everyone knows Dong Mingzhu is the legal representative and chairwoman of the company, she bears responsibility for the enterprise. That’s a guarantee of market and consumer trust, the most responsible choice for consumers.

Entrepreneurs creating IP maliciously for self-promotion, I do not agree with. People say I have IP, but I don’t see myself as an internet celebrity. I focus more on our products, building trust in sales. Consumers trust Gree, which fuels their interest in me personally. I won’t deliberately create IP online, but many companies talk about avoiding it while actually developing their own IP.

Chinese manufacturing must go global, not just through simple product exports

NBD: Gree advocates “Let the world fall in love with Made in China,” from product export to brand export and standard export. In the context of changing global trade patterns, how do you think Chinese brands can truly shift from “world factory” to “world brand”?

Dong Mingzhu: I always say, third-rate companies make products, second-rate companies build brands, first-rate companies set standards. For a long time, Chinese manufacturing was labeled as low quality and low price, with low international recognition. Most exports were OEM, not independent brands. To go global, Chinese manufacturing must leverage brand power, not just product output.

In this context, I believe we should have the ability to make the world love Made in China. That’s why I proposed this slogan—to turn pressure into motivation. Gree air conditioners enjoy a good reputation internationally, recognized for quality—an example of “Let the world love Made in China.”

Earlier, I mentioned that first-rate companies set standards. In June last year, we led the global release of two ISO standards for refrigeration compressors—an example of “standard going abroad.” Ultimately, consumer needs are the true standards. These standards becoming international aims to ensure that Gree not only makes good products but also provides new standards for all compressor manufacturers worldwide. Through joint efforts, we can create a green energy environment in various countries and provide technological support—that’s the real significance of these international standards.