Maurice Greenberg was ousted amid ongoing SEC and NY Attorney General probes.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - American International Group Chief Executive Martin Sullivan is working to build relationships with Chinese regulators to build up the insurance company's business there, according to a news report Friday.

But AIG's longtime former chief, Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, is also in talks with Chinese companies about joint ventures in financial services, energy, the environment and technology, The Wall Street Journal said, citing people working with Greenberg.

Greenberg, despite a tarnished reputation back home, has remained in good standing to many in China. "AIG will have to double its efforts without Mr. Greenberg," said Long Yong-tu, former WTO negotiator for China, according to the newspaper.

Greenberg was forced out as CEO amid an investigation by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and the Securities Exchange Commission into a reinsurance deal with Berkshire Hathaway's General Reinsurance unit four years ago.

Greenberg had made it his mission to build strong ties in China. Now, AIG aims to switch China's loyalty from the man to the company, the newspaper said.

AIG collects $1.3 billion a year in insurance premiums in China, including Hong Kong. Although that is only 2 percent of AIG's insurance revenue, AIG expects Chinese premiums to quadruple in the next five years, the newspaper said.

Greenberg warned directors that operations abroad, particularly in China, would be doomed without his leadership and high-level contacts, the newspaper said.

But Sullivan, who is planning another visit to China before year's end to cement business and government contacts, said "I'll do whatever it takes for AIG to continue to succeed here," according to the Journal.

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Maurice "Hank" Greenberg avoids criminal charges. For more, click here.