Known as China's tech-hub, the city of Shenzhen gained its reputation with swift and cutting-edge development and innovation. Tech companies in droves witnessed the common growth of both the city and themselves. As one of the area and nation's top companies, Huawei and its employees shared firsthand experience on the changes and development of the city and the company. Here's one longtime foreign employee's account of both.

"My name's Christopher John Taubman. I've been uh, working in Huawei now since January 2011. So this has been over eight and a half years."

CHRISTOPHER TAUBMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CUSTOMER FINANCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT "So it's also been eight and a half years in China. It was a very, I think farsighted choice, because I could see that China is developing so fast."

"I work in the sales financing department, which has really two main roles. We are here to support sales, Huawei sales, through firstly, assisting customers with financing. Huawei was probably the most fast-growing exciting company I could find.

CHRISTOPHER TAUBMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CUSTOMER FINANCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT "I didn't know much about China until I came here in 2010. It's not like many of the countries I've worked. It has everything. It has its own existence. It has everything to have a full life here."

"The biggest impression I had of Huawei and of China in general, here was one of friendliness. Chinese people are extremely friendly to foreigners. They welcome foreigners, they extend their hospitality, they're interested in foreigners."

CHRISTOPHER TAUBMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CUSTOMER FINANCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT "And in particular, Shenzhen is a mishmash of so many different people from all over China. And they are people themselves who have moved from their hometowns and are living in this new city. So in a way, they can understand what it's like for someone to come and live here as a foreigner. This also helps."

"China is moving from a development, economic development focus to a lifestyle focus, including environmental considerations, including, you know, uh, planning for people's future even in terms of pensions and other things, the country is evolving in a very rational way."

"They had to get over a certain phase of economic development, catch up, and now they're in the overtaking phase and they're using that money to basically promote the interests of the country. And I found that very, very encouraging."