Although no major breakthrough has been seen in China's financial system, innovations at the grass-roots level are noticeable.

Shi Jianchang, a Sichuan businessman, has many titles. He is chairman of Heli Guarantee, a loan guarantee company, chairman of Heli Microcredit, a small loan company, chairman of Best Kingdom (Tianjin) Financial Leasing Co and vice-president of the Chengdu Chamber of Commerce under the official Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce.

He has made good use of this portfolio of titles to manage his prosperity in what is for many a grim environment.