LI XUECAI lives in the city of Lianyungang - but works in two very different worlds.
Each workday morning, he sets off for his office at the Lianli Water Meter Company - a joint venture 71.67 per cent owned by leading Italian water-meter manufacturer Maddalena - where he is president and general manager.
In the afternoon, he swaps roles to become factory director at Lianyungang Water Meter Factory - a 100 per cent state-owned enterprise.
The management and structure of the Italian joint venture are modelled on European companies and its business is on an upward swing.
In contrast, the loss-making Lianyungang Water Meter Factory is marked by the problems and inefficiency typical of China's state enterprises.
'Lianli would have made bigger profits if it was not for the lack of co-ordination among water meter manufacturers in China,' Mr Li said.
