BUSINESS IN CHINA

CULTURAL TIPS FOR DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA

FIRST CONTACT GRETTINS HOW TO PESENT YOURSELF BUSINESS RELATIONS GIFTS BUSINESS COMMUNCATION DRESS CODE VISITING CARDS

FIRST CONTACT

The most effective way to develop your relations is to include a Chinese intermediary of your country in the process.

• To be accepted more quickly, to start to build your “ guanxi more effectively;

• To obtain more complete and more precise information on your potential partners and their intentions,

• To avoid a false step as regards local customs. The fact of including a Chinese intermediary will put your Chinese associates more at ease.

GRETTINGS

Greetings meetings start with a handshake and a light nod of the head. The handshake should not be too vigorous, the Chinese would interpret it as a sign of aggressiveness. Many Chinese look towards the ground when they greet anyone.

Physical proximity is to be avoided with the majority of your interlocutors, and is to be avoided between people of different sex.

HOW TO PESENT YOURSELF

Introduce yourself by your name, give your visiting card. Few Chinese words will be appreciated.

BUSINESS RELATIONS

The Chinese do not like to deal with foreigners. They negotiate relations rather than contracts. Attempts to establish solid contacts frequently fail, because foreigners do not care to cultivate personal basis of these contacts.

GIFTSExchanging gifts is customary. When you receive a gift, refuse it two to three times before accepting it. It is courtesy not to open the gift in public unless your host insists that you open it. The gift is a gesture for symbolizing the beginning of a relation.

BUSINESS COMMUNCATION

Within the team, only the member of a higher rank will speak during negotiations.

The Chinese do not like confrontation. They will never say "no" openly, they will say instead "they will see" or "they will think over it".

Under no circumstance, you should lose your temper as that would harm irrevocably your relation. Do not use pressure tactics, you could be seen as a manipulator.

DRESS CODE

Costumes and ties of subtle colors are insisted and remain the standard. Conspicuous colors must not be worn. Discretion must be observed as regards respect and modesty.

VISITING CARDS

Business and name cards are ubiquitous in Chinese business and will almost always be exchanged upon meeting a stranger. Your card must be printed in English and Chinese

TASTES

The products must be of quality

Give much thought to:• designations of origin, quality certificates etc. • the packaging, this should be very ostentatious,

extravagant and exaggerated.

CONCLUTION

• We think that doing business with Chinese business owners is quite complicated as they don´t like doing it with foreign people.

• The Chinese culture language is so different from ours that thenegotations become quite difficult.

• We have come to the conclution that it is easier to import stufffrom China rather export it there.