Hedge fund guru shares mantra of 'radical transparency'

When American investor and hedge fund manager Ray Dalio first visited China in 1984, the nation was in the early stages of the reform and opening-up process which set in motion a period of high economic growth - and a very different proposition to the country he finds today.

He has returned to the country dozens of times since then. He has sent his son to study in China, established charitable foundations, and has built personal relationships with some of the nation's most significant regulatory officials, as an informal adviser.

Thirty-four years later, as he visited Beijing and Shanghai earlier this month to promote the Chinese edition of his book Principles, it is clear that he has become a very popular figure. Many star-struck readers attended the events, keen to hear his insights into the Chinese economy, the 2008 financial crisis, and how he came to lead the world's best performing hedge fund.