The enduring friendship between Wang Jie and Marco Antonio Del Prado Nuñez has transcended cultural differences and shaped a decade of successful Sino-Peruvian collaboration and mutual growth.
Wang Jie (right) and Marco Antonio Del Prado Nuñez attended a cross-cultural event held at the CISPDR Corporation's Peru branch on Sept 17, 2023. (ZHANG WEINA / FOR CHINA DAILY)
Some say that friends are the family you choose for yourself. Wang Jie chose a family thousands of miles away.
Wang, 37, is the deputy general manager of the CISPDR Corporation (Changjiang International Engineering Co., Ltd), a State-owned Chinese high-tech enterprise, and general manager of the company's Peru branch.
Befriending someone older than me is like a learning opportunity. I’ve learned so much from Nuñez, not just about his culture, but also life lessons.
Wang Jie, deputy general manager of the CISPDR Corporation
His bond with Marco Antonio Del Prado Nuñez, a Peruvian government official blossomed when they met 10 years ago.
In 2012, the two crossed paths at a training session hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. At that time, Nuñez was in charge of water resources. Wang could speak perfect Spanish, and his company is one of the best water conservancy consultancy companies in China.
"I introduced him to the middle route of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the Three Gorges Project. He was especially interested in the former, as 80 percent of Peru's population is located along the Pacific coast, but 80 percent of the country's water resources are in the western Amazon basin," Wang said.
They hit it off right away and began their long-lasting e-mail correspondence.
According to Wang, they wrote to each other once or twice a week. Initially, the correspondence revolved mostly around famous sights and culture in both countries. "We would sometimes call each other, but international phone calls are costly. I remember one month spending over 4,000 yuan."
Nuñez is 28 years older than Wang. However, the differences between their ages and cultures has not hindered their friendship.
"First of all, respecting each other's cultural identity is very important. Second, topics are crucial. You have to be a jack of all trades, both hobby and knowledge-wise," Wang said.
Wang (left) and Nuñez studied the river systems of Peru together. (ZHANG WEINA / FOR CHINA DAILY)
"Peruvians are especially keen on spiritual communication. Engaging in multiple hobbies has not only broadened my horizons but has also helped me overcome some of my most significant challenges in Peru. For example, shared interests certainly paved the way for more opportunities for open and meaningful conversations between me and Nuñez."
However, Wang did experience a bit of culture shock when Nuñez first invited him to Peru. "When Peruvians come across something they find delicious, they have this charming habit of immediately passing it over and urging you to take a bite or sip," Wang chuckled. "I was initially taken aback, but I graciously accepted their generous offers. I knew that they would have understood if I'd hesitated, but the opportunity to develop a deeper bond may be lost in that moment."
The age difference turned out to be a valuable asset for Wang. "Befriending someone older than me is like a learning opportunity. I've learned so much from Nuñez, not just about his culture, but also life lessons."
For example, Nuñez has always told him to "do what's right, not what's convenient" and emphasized, "You must follow the procedures, step by step, and not take shortcuts just because you're in a hurry."
However, their friendship is not without challenges. Like most friends, they have had some friction over the years.
Occasionally, when they were working on a challenging project, their respective jobs overlapped. One such instance occurred during the Christmas season. "I wanted Nuñez and his team to work some extra hours to complete the project as soon as possible, but he refused, emphasizing the importance of spending Christmas with their families," Wang recalled. "But I thought taking a day off for Christmas wasn't important, so we had a dispute."
As a result of this incident, Wang gained insight into the commitment Nuñez and local Peruvians have to their families. It was an opportunity for Wang to truly grasp the value of understanding and adapting to the local culture.
Wang (left) and Nuñez played ping-pong together. (ZHANG WEINA / FOR CHINA DAILY)
Therefore, when the CISPDR Corporation was looking to build its Peru branch, Wang took the initiative to make policy adjustments and tried different management tactics.
"When many Chinese enterprises go abroad, they often move the entire company with its Chinese staff and management system, which would not work in Peru," Wang said. "Our company decided to go local, from legal representatives to the heads of departments."
Wang decided to run the company not as employees' boss, but as their family member and friend. Every morning when he arrives at work, he makes sure to have one-on-one conversations with them.
"If any of them are unhappy about something, whether it's about work or family issues, they're welcome to talk to me," Wang said. "After they finish venting, they are reenergized and ready to work."
Wang also gives his staff "soccer vacations". During the soccer season, he allows his staff to attend games on weekdays. "If they still have work to finish, they can come to work on weekends without overtime pay or complaints."
Through 10 years of exploration, Wang realized that if a company wants to truly take root and thrive in a foreign country, it must respect local culture and empathize with people of that country.
Wang spends about 10 months in Peru each year. "When I'm back in China, my Peruvian staff keeps text-bombing me. It feels like part of my heart is still left over there."
Peru has been part of the Belt and Road Initiative for several years. "China is now its largest trading partner," Wang said. "Chinese enterprises invest on a very large scale, many in the tens of billions of dollars."
Wang expressed his hope that there could be more cultural exchanges between the two countries. "On the micro level, I hope more Peruvians could visit China and see for themselves. Even for those who have been here before, they will discover China's rapid and grand changes when they revisit."
Nuñez has been to China before, and for his next visit, Wang said he plans to take him to Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, "Nuñez once told me that China's development is as fast as the high-speed rail. China is vast and culturally diverse and I want to show him the charms of different areas."
