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Meetings are
considered very formal in China. It is a good idea to send a list
of your representatives before the meeting, and to include their
rank in your company. 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.
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