Enabling public relations of new firms

Simon Vericel, 38, a Frenchman and founder of Influence Matters, a Beijing-based public relations agency, said the firm will open a new office in Shanghai this year to further expand its business.

Many opportunities come from China's fast technological development, and the great opportunities it has created for foreign companies to cooperate and share knowledge with Chinese companies, to develop new products, services and markets, said Vericel. He decided to study and live in China in 2009 and is now a father of three little children, including an infant.

"The business environment has become a lot friendlier to entrepreneurs and innovation-focused companies in the past five years," he said. "With the explosion of coworking spaces available everywhere, anyone with an idea can start working right away, registration procedures for companies have been simplified and clarified." The general sentiment toward entrepreneurs is positive, so it gives confidence to aspiring entrepreneurs in China, he said.