Here's a precis: Chinese company pays Caucasian male handsomely to pretend to be an executive of a company to make a speech, meet some officials and shake some hands. Simple.
The reason for these shenanigans is that it's still 'flash' to be a (white) foreigner in China, especially in the provinces. So, if your company flies in your top executive or expert from America it's a big deal. And it goes a long way to cementing a business deal or contract.
The twist in this story is that these foreigners might well be American (or Canadian...even I can't tell the difference sometimes so I doubt the Chinese will ;) ), but they haven't boarded any planes, aren't businessmen and the company might not even exist!
"...so I became a fake businessman in China, an often lucrative gig for underworked expatriates here. One friend, an American who works in film, was paid to represent a Canadian company and give a speech espousing a low-carbon future. Another was flown to Shanghai to act as a seasonal-gifts buyer. Recruiting fake businessmen is one way to create the image—particularly, the image of connection—that Chinese companies crave. My Chinese-language tutor, at first aghast about how much we were getting paid, put it this way: 'Having foreigners in nice suits gives the company face.'
After a brief introduction, “Director” Ernie delivered his speech before the hundred or so people in attendance. He boasted about the company’s long list of international clients and emphasized how happy we were to be working on such an important project. When the speech was over, confetti blasted over the stage, fireworks popped above the dusty field beside us, and Ernie posed for a photo with the mayor."
