Lord Michael Bates visits the small commodity market in Yiwu, Zhejiang province on Aug 26. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Former British Minister of State for International Development Lord Michael Bates and his wife Lady Bates, Li Xuelin, stopped by Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang province on Aug 26. 

Lord and Lady Bates walked along the major avenues of Yiwu and visited Yiwu International Trade City. 

Impressed by the locals' hospitality and the city's prosperity, the couple will stay for two days to have a more in-depth understanding of the international business city before continuing their walk.

The couple is on a 500-kilometer charity walk across Zhejiang province. They left from Hangzhou on Aug 19 and are expected to arrive in Wenzhou on Sept 19. 

Lord and Lady Bates will help to publicize Zhejiang's cultural and economic development over the past years, while also raising money for children and the disabled in Zhejiang.

"We hope more people around the world could learn more about China and use cultural exchanges to build a bridge of friendship," said Lord Bates.