William Schulz, President of ima, represented the United States for a goodwill conference in China. Centered in the providence of Zhejiang, Bill was a guest of Chairman Shi, a Client of ima from Wenzhou, and Vice President of the Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. Situated in the coastal area of southeast China, Zhejiang borders Shanghai and has seen rapid progress in its economic growth as a result of restructuring and rapid transformation. Eight international business men and women, including the Prince and Princess Norodom Sirivudh of Cambodia, Muraro Gian Pietro, Puppato Franco, Guillermo Balarezo Ortiz, and Dá vila Yepez Jorge Geovanny were invited on the trip to promote public diplomacy, cross cultural understanding, and trade between China and foreign countries through experiencing Chinese culture. Bill’s highlight was interfacing with the various delegates in a non-business and non-political way and building friendships throughout the trip. Bill also enjoyed visiting the Qingtian Jiangnan Experimental Primary School, meeting the children, and receiving personal art work from several of the students. The delegation visited Alibaba Group, the largest ecommerce group in the world; Hangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Hall; and Yiwu International Small Commodity Market. The group also experienced the West Lake presentation “Impression of West Lake” and toured Huangdi Mausoleum in Xiandu; enjoyed the magic of Qingtian stone carving; fully experienced the vigor of Zhejiang economic development; and appreciated the landscape and culture of Zhejiang.
