. Only senior members of the negotiating team will speak. Designate the most senior person in your group as your spokesman for the introductory functions. . Business negotiations occur at a slow pace. . Be prepared for the agenda to become a jumping off point for other discussions. . Chinese are non-confrontational. They will not overtly say 'no', they will say 'they will think about it' or 'they will see'. . Chinese negotiations are process oriented. They want to determine if relationships can develop to a stage where both parties are comfortable doing business with the other. . Decisions may take a long time, as they require careful review and consideration. . Under no circumstances should you lose your temper or you will lose face and irrevocably damage your relationship. . Do not use high-pressure tactics. You might find yourself outmanoeuvred. . Business is hierarchical. Decisions are unlikely to be made during the meetings you attend. . The Chinese are shrewd negotiators. . Your starting price should leave room for negotiation.
What to Wear?
. Business attire is conservative and unpretentious. . Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits. . Women should wear conservative business suits or dresses with a high neckline. . Women should wear flat shoes or shoes with very low heels. . Bright colours should be avoided.
Business Cards
. Business cards are exchanged after the initial introduction. . Have one side of your business card translated into Chinese using simplified Chinese characters that are printed in gold ink since gold is an auspicious colour. . Your business card should include your title. If your company is the oldest or largest in your country, that fact should be on your card as well. . Hold the card in both hands when offering it, Chinese side facing the recipient. . Examine a business card before putting it on the table next to you or in a business card case. . Never write on someone's card unless so directed.
USA
Facts and Statistics
Location:North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico Capital:Washington, DC Climate:mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest. Population:301,139,947 (July 2007 est.) Ethnic Make-up: white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2% (2003 est.) Religions:Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.) Government:Constitution-based federal republic
Language in the USA
The United States does not have an official language, but English is spoken by about 82% of the population as a native language. The variety of English spoken in the United States is known as American English; together with Canadian English it makes up the group of dialects known as North American English. Spanish is the second-most common language in the country, spoken by almost 30 million people (or 12% of the population).
American Society and Culture
Diversity
America is ultimately a nation of immigrants and as a result is a cultural mish-mash in every sense of the word. Not only is the country populated by people from foreign countries but all Americans in one way or another trace their ancestry back to another culture, whether Irish, German, Italian or Scottish. Looking around any major city one will notice the ‘melting-pot’ that it is.
