Chinese Business Etiquette

Chinese Business Etiquette

In China, there are many skills required in order to make a business successful in China such as being able to set up a business meeting, business attire, greeting business members and other important skills. The attire wore by Chinese businessmen and businesswomen are conservative and unpretentious. Men should be wearing dark-coloured suits, while the women should wear long sleeved blouse with high neckline and flat shoes or very low heels. Revealing clothing in Chinese business is considered as poor taste and not academic.

When setting up a business meeting, it is important to send information about the topic to be discussed and background information of your company to the counterpart. Now when arriving at business meeting you should never arrive late or it will be considered being rude and if you do arrive late you should apologize to your business committee. As well when hosting the business meeting you should send a representative to escort the business participants to the meeting room. Seating of a business meeting is usually arranged by the business rank. During the discussion in the business meeting you should start with small talk to make everything to feel comfortable and know each other. Afterwards the hosting person will start a welcoming speech of the topic and then the discussion of the topic is commenced.

Other business etiquette skills are business cards should be exchanged during a business meeting as a form introducing you to the counterpart, business negotiation should be handled by the senior member of the team, appointments should be scheduled in business company, and knowing how to have a business conservation with the counterpart.

References:

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/china-country-profile.html

http://www.etiquetteinchina.com/businessmeeting.html

http://chineseculture.about.com/od/businesseconomy/a/Chinese-Business-Chinese-Business-Meeting-Etiquette.htm