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Culture and language

The great wall of China

Break down cultural and language barriers with the help of these tips.


In this section:

Dealing with language differences
Business etiquette


Dealing with language differences

Take time to understand the culture
"It's not necessary for you to speak fluent Chinese. You have to understand the culture...it's more important for you to understand the people. Why are they thinking like this? Why do they speak like this? Why are they dressing like this?" - Mei Wong, Executive Director, Intuto



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Business etiquette

Use bonding rituals to your advantage
Wining and dining is often a key part of building relationships. Drinking baijiu, which is 80-120 proof, and the demands of 'gan bei' (or in the kiwi vernacular 'scull') is an important bonding ritual among Chinese businessmen and you will often be encouraged to take part. "You may have to sacrifice your liver," says BioVittoria Managing Director Stephen LeFebvre.



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