Chinese expat flies high in aviation sector

C919, China's home-made large passenger aircraft, is under development. United Technologies Corp is a supplier for the project and has set up a joint venture with Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd, developer and maker of the carrier. Provided to China Daily

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Even as a senior manager without any technology background, Liping Xie has nonetheless worked for 18 years at United Technologies Corp, the US-based diversified industrial manufacturing enterprise.

"I never expected that I would work in the company for such a long time," said Xie, who was appointed president of United Technologies Aerospace and Government Relations, China, in 2013.

What is more unexpected is that Xie returned to China 10 years after moving to the United States and has been in his motherland for the past 10 years.

"I kept my house and car in the US initially because my boss at first told me my work in China was short term," said Xie, who has a major in economic management.

He had to work from his apartment when he was sent to Shanghai in 2004 to take over the position of strategy and development director in Asia of Pratt & Whitney, United Technologies' aircraft engine unit.

Now, the aerospace business unit owns 10 joint ventures, while the whole group has 465 locations involving 24 manufacturing facilities and 21,000 employees around China.

"It was an extremely significant decision for me to come back to China," Xie said.

"My personal growth is strongly connected to the country's development and United Technologies' commitment in this growing market."

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