The duo, who head up ACA Capital Investments, are the figures driving the wholesale trade centre project but have chosen to keep a low profile thus far.

Mr Xu is the company’s director, while Ms Zhang currently holds the title of general manager at ACA Capital Investments and was previously a director as recently as three years ago.

Curiously, Mr Xu is purported to never hand out business cards to people he deals with, as part of his efforts to keep out of the spotlight.

Deputy mayor Andrew Negline, who has extensive experience doing business in the Asian landscape, describes this as unusual practice among Asian business circles.

“When an Asian businessperson doesn’t hand out a business card, they are holding you with discontent,” he said.

Ms Zhang is the point of call for what little public contact ACA Capital Investments chooses to make.

“Lydia (Zhang) is the fall guy,” Councillor Negline said.

“She takes the hits – she can say things with no accountability.”

Both Mr Xu and Ms Zhang split their time between ACA Capital Investments’ offices in Sydney and China and have been doing business in Australia for more than 20 years.

Prior to being elected to council last year, Julian McLaren had dealt with Ms Zhang on a number of occasions.

He believes, given the amount of time the pair have spent in Australia, they should be well aware of the commercial landscape.

“There is no doubt in China that business is transacted in a very different manner to how it is in Australia,” he said.

“Given Lydia and Humphrey are residents of Australia they should be very aware of our rules, regulations and processes.”

Cr McLaren claims to no longer be in contact with Ms Zhang now that he is a sitting councillor.

But most Wagga councillors have never been introduced to either Mr Xu or Ms Zhang, who have dealt mainly with director-level staff at council.

It’s believed that the bulk of official communications between ACA Capital Investments and Wagga City Council regarding the trade centre have gone through council commercial and economic development director Peter Adams.

Mayor Rod Kendall has told The Daily Advertiser that he has had limited dealings with the ACA Capital Investments duo outside of signing documents requiring his approval.

Despite this, it is believed Ms Zhang has attempted to cultivate a relationship with at least one Wagga councillor behind the scenes and she is in regular contact with Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire.

Mr Maguire, currently in China, is steadfastly refusing to comment on any aspect of the trade centre deal until its development application is finalised.

Cr Kendall has often talked about the “good for Wagga” test in relation to the trade centre project.

But does council continuing to negotiate with these two individuals pass muster?

The Daily Advertiser put this question to Cr Kendall, but he declined to comment.

“The good for Wagga test is about the development,” he said.

Cr Negline believes the duo have no respect for the people of Wagga and its council.

“During this process we’ve been treated like country bumpkins,” he said.