Meetings

Meetings are considered very formal in China. A list of your representatives before the meeting including their rank in your company are required. You should also request a similar list. You will be led into a room in which the Chinese are already present. Your team leader should enter first. Teams sit across a table, leaders opposite each other and others seated in descending order of importance.

Small talk will come first. Business is addressed once people feel comfortable with each other. The head of the host team will deliver a short welcome speech, then turn the floor over to the visitors. Your senior team member should speak for your company; avoid conflicting statements from other team members. When talking, your spokesman should address the senior Chinese representative. Chinese prefer to hear a proposal as a broad overview, and then respond to specific issues or questions point by point. Business cards are a common opening to business meetings, and are more impressive if one side is translated into Chinese characters.