A friendship beyond business

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.

"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.

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.