Gree Electric's Dong Mingzhu says that striving does not mean working overtime; it's a good thing for young people to feel pressure.

IT House, March 12 — According to China News Weekly on March 10, Dong Mingzhu, a National People’s Congress delegate and Chairman of Gree Electric Appliances, stated in an interview that “the idea that ‘struggle = working overtime’ is incorrect”. Under normal circumstances, overtime is not necessary. When the country needs it or the organization faces unexpected situations, and overtime is truly required, “you should step up and take responsibility; this is the highest level.”

Dong Mingzhu said that some young people see others “lying flat” and think they should do the same. In fact, they should ask themselves, “Can I do it?” “Although people complain verbally, their actions do not complain; this is the most positive side.”

According to Southern Daily on March 10, Dong Mingzhu gave an exclusive interview to the Southern+ client’s “Yao Yao Leading” program. When facing some young people’s tendency to feel anxious, Dong Mingzhu encouraged them to be good at solving problems. When feeling wronged, one approach is to use more reasonable facts to persuade others and reach a consensus; another is to step back and continue working on their own career, earning recognition through achievements. “Having pressure is a good thing; it means there’s something you want to accomplish, but don’t let anxiety take over.”

According to previous reports by IT House, at the 2026 National Two Sessions, Dong Mingzhu focused on proposing five suggestions around “regulating platform economy, promoting green consumption, and maintaining market fairness,” including:

• Strengthening the responsibility of e-commerce platforms to combat counterfeit goods
• Regulating the second-hand home appliance market
• Promoting energy-saving procurement throughout the entire lifecycle
• Improving online tax regulation
• Promoting coordinated development of online and offline commerce