In 1991, Yuan Guoping quit his government job to pursue further education and new opportunities in Germany. Fourteen years later, he left his comfortable life overseas to establish his own company in Beijing TAWA (Beijing) Co Ltd, a sewage treatment company that has become a leader in the field.

"China is facing a severe problem in industrial pollution, so this is the right place to use my knowledge," Yuan says. "The government now is trying to reduce pollution, so my business is going well."

On a recent day, the 45-year-old Yuan asked his secretary to book a train ticket to Shijiazhuang for him. The next morning, the busy CEO would sign a contract with a local factory.