I am meeting with a client who is from China. He has been in the U.S. for a couple of years now.?

Question

There will be a interpreter who will provide communication between us. He does not speak English. What are some cultural sensitivity tips that will help me connect better with him. Please, serious, informed answers only.

Answer 1

Chinese people are generally far more tolerant and patient than western people, so don't worry about it too much. He knows that you are not Chinese, and do not understand the Chinese culture.
Remember that China is the fastest changing country in the world, by far, so anything you know is quite likely out of date already.
One major thing that i find very different is that it is difficult to change the subject of discussion. When you want to talk about something different, make it very clear that you have finished with the last point, and are now moving on to a new topic.

Chinese culture is to have a meal together in order to get to know each other. Chinese generally get up and leave the table immediatly the food is finished. The major topics for discussion are usually left until near the end of the meal, once you know each other. Guanxi (pronounced guanshee) is the word which describes the way in which Chinese do business. It is based on having a common reference point of an important person. The first part of the meal is spent in establishing your guanxi, i.e. who do you know. It will help if you know the name of China's president (Hu Jin Taew), and the facts that they recently joined the WTO, and that the Olympics will be held in China in 2008. Maybe you know about China's one child policy - only one child per family, unless very rich. Also knowing of the 'one China policy', which considers that Taiwan is a part of China.

Answer 2

The thing most people from outside China forget is that they have a huge population and we think that because they are not as open as the USA that they are backwards.

Make sure not to act too amazed about anything he may say about his country. Be impressed but not surprised that they are doing it because they think of their country as advanced as others.

The truth is the combo of capitalism and not a democracy will allow China to do things that the USA can not do. This will make China the great Super Power within 15 to 20 years. Maybe sooner.

Answer 3

chinese culture allows for much less personal space than western culture, so you might want to sit a little closer to him than the customary western two feet, three inches, or he might feel you are distant. also, chinese people will take longer breaks between parts of a sentence, so make sure you wait a bit before you start replying to anything he says because you might actually be interrupting him. chinese politeness often looks exagerrated from a western point of view, so be as polite as you possibly can and lower yourself in front of him, especially if he is older than you or higher up the social ladder. emphasise what an honour it is that he is considering hiring you. take good care you don't take his politeness for sarcasm, it has been known to happen because it seems so over the top to us. well, that's what i learned in intercultural communication class in uni anyway, and the chinese friend who sat next to me didn't disagree. ;-) good luck!

Answer 4

Would love to know, if you could get help from the State Department with that question that wouldn't cost you more than phone call or they may hve web site.