APCO Worldwide Inc, a US business strategy firm, recently completed a survey of 50 Chinese business executives, and found 94 percent considered their experience in the US market as successful.

Around 92 percent of respondents said, however, that overcoming cultural difference was their primary challenge, and 70 percent expressed concern over access to the market, hindered by the country's regulatory environment.

Kenneth Jarrett, chairman of APCO's China operations, said that business leaders reported their enterprises had had a relatively easy time entering the US, with good access to capital and existing relationships playing a key role. "To succeed in the market, you have to down play your Chinese characteristics and operate as a US company."