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Day to day communications
Businesses in the leading cities have all the communications services you'd expect at home, but as is often the case, services in the rural and outlying areas are not as well developed. However, mobile communications coverage in many rural places is just as good or even sometimes better than in
New Zealand.
Although internet usage as a percentage is still low by Western standards it is growing rapidly - reaching 298 million users in 2008. The growth of wireless internet has seen an increased demand for internet via mobile phone with 117 million users.
If you are dealing with major Chinese companies that operate internationally it is likely that your day-to-day communications by phone and email will be with an English-speaking person. Domestic companies, however, are unlikely to have English-speaking staff and even if they do you will need to be confident in that person's English. If you are not, arrange to get all important written communications translated from Chinese to English.
Key learnings
- If your size justifies it, have a Chinese speaking person on your staff.
- If you are not confident in the English of a major client who is communicating with you, arrange to get communications translated from Chinese.
- Always have a back up means of communication.
Where to from here?
Read about using communications technology.
