In 1981 he attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduated in 1984 with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

He then returned to his former position as Chief Engineer of the Science & Technology Bureau of the Ministry of Chemical Industry until 1988, when he was promoted to the Vice-President and Chief Engineer of the Scientific and Technical Research Institute of the Ministry of Chemical Industry.

During the same period, he held the position of the Chairman of the China National Democratic Construction Association (CNDCA) Central Committee, from 1996-1997.

During this time, he was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

The Brookings Institution has hosted him as a speaker in an effort to find out more about China's 12th 5-year-plan, including its top-level policy objectives.