Complex sentence: The Chinese government began reforms in the mid- 1990s encouraging small operators to consolidate and allow foreign companies to form joint ventures so that Chinese companies could learn modern management practices, financial controls, and industrial, environmental and safety standards.
Split into simpler sentences: The Chinese government began reforms in the mid- 1990s encouraging small operators to consolidate and allow foreign companies to form joint ventures. The intent was for Chinese companies to learn modern management practices; financial controls; and industrial, environmental and safety standards.