Last week we send out our second newsletter (thanks for the response, Martin and Corn
here the answers to your FAQ's!). This week we are picking up speed. With all Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo-recipients of our newsletter steady on board. More and more unique content is finding its way to our web site: featuring chair of Guanxi
Lianne Baaij this week! And a slight turn of events, because instead of interrogating others, we were the ones being interviewed about our story. The result of which you can read in a feature article by clubchina.klm.com next week. Those of you who are not a Club China member can read the article any time soon on our web site.
Have a great week!
China Success Stories
PS: To read last weeks edition,
click here
Feature article
China, communication and Guanxi
By China Success Stories
An increasing number of professionals offer services for companies who have their mind set on China. These translators, interpreters, webmasters, trainers, lawyers and other consultants often join forces in umbrella networks, aiming to offer entrepreneurs wide ranging support. China Success Stories met up with Lianne Baaij, chair of such a network (Guanxi.nu) to talk about China, communication and Guanxi.
Ms Baaij is a sinology graduate and, as well as being chair of Guanxi, owns the translation and advice agency China Access. It is mainly from this latter line of work that she, above all appreciates the importance of practical experience as far as the Chinese language is concerned. "A classic example ? When I just started out, my pronunciation of certain sounds was not very good. I directly messed up in my first conversation. I asked a salesman if I could kiss him...(
click here to read the rest of the article).
Guest Blog
Key Words In Chinese Business Thinking
By chinamaze.com
Key Words in Chinese Business ThinkingIn preparing for a business trip to China, most Westerners like to arm themselves with a handy, one-page list of etiquette how-tos. "Carry a boatload of business cards," tipsters say. "Bring your own interpreter." "Speak in short sentences." "Wear a conservative suit." Such advice can help get you in the door and even through the first series of business transactions. But it won't sustain the kind of prolonged, year-in, year-out associations that Chinese and Western businesses can now achieve.
Indeed, our work with dozens of companies and thousands of American and Chinese executives over the past twenty years has demonstrated to us that a superficial obedience to the rules of etiquette gets you only so far. In fact, we have witnessed breakdowns between American and Chinese businesspeople time and time again. The root cause: a failure on the American side...(
click here to read the rest of the article).
Facts & Figures
Copyright or right to copy?
You never know when these statistics might prove to be of value to you. So without further ado, here's our weekly top 10.
Top 10 countries with the highest video piracy (estimated loss in 2005 ($)):
| 1 |
Mexico |
483.000.000 |
| 2 |
Russia |
266.000.000 |
| 3 |
China |
244.000.000 |
| 4 |
Italy |
161.000.000 |
| 5 |
Thailand |
149.000.000 |
| 6 |
Brazil |
120.000.000 |
| 7 |
Canada |
118.000.000 |
| 8 |
Hongaria |
102.000.000 |
| 9 |
Poland |
102.000.000 |
| 10 |
Taiwan |
98.000.000 |
(Source: International Intellectual Properrty Alliance (IIPA))
Guest Blog
Top 5 Myths About China
By Rosalyn Pan
Over 20 percent of the world's population are Chinese, and by economic standards, China's ascent is only just beginning. The Chinese nation, culture, economy, and language are going to get more and more important in the world during your lifetime. But how much do you currently know about modern China?
What you learned at school about China, and what you read in the newspapers or see on the TV news may not be true any more.
Have a look at the following generalisations about China and see if you ever heard or believed something similar. Can you open your mind and change your preconceptions about China... (
click here to read the rest of the article).
Site of the Week
China Herald
The information about China you find surfing the web tends to be cluttered and often tainted. Notwithstanding the fact there are many excellent web sites as well. In every edition we briefly credit some of those good ones out there. This week we rated the online newspaper
China Herald:
| Content |
 |
| Look and feel |
 |
| Usability |
 |
| Interactive options |
|
| Extras |
|
Total 4/5
|
|
Guest Blog
Top 10 Chinese Business Culture "Dos" and "Don'ts"
By Hubert Hopkins
1. The traditional Chinese "handshake" consists of interlocking the fingers, waving them up and down several times. This greeting is rarely used today (except during festivals, weddings and birthdays of the elderly), instead using the Western-style handshake. A slight bow should often accompanies the handshake, but do not bow from the waist in the style of the Japanese. The Chinese prefer a gentler handshake than the firm grip expected in Western cultures. Physical contact other than a handshake is highly discouraged unless you know someone quite well.
2. Chinese names are "reversed" from Western names. The surname is said first and then the given name. For example, Bruce Lee's name...(
click here to read the rest of the article).
