He got his phd under Prof. Glen Wade in Santa Barbara U of California back in late 1980s, my father used to worked with him publishing a few papers when he was in US, they are at the same level back then and both are excellent teammembers of Wade.
Later my father went back to china in mid 1980s, and has never made significant academic progress as he did in US since, and just made a common professor. Li Xiaowen continued studying and working in US, and then back to china in new century and became a somewhat top scientist in China. I believe it is the option 30 years ago that made the significant difference.