What Should I Know About Business Etiquette in China?

Business etiquette, usually refers to the specific use of etiquette in the business industry, mainly refers to a common etiquette between business and social behavior; also refers to the code of conduct that business personnel should strictly adhere to in their work . ^[1]

Business etiquette knowledge

Arrangements for the podium of the conference

According to the principles mastered by the Central Office: left is up, right is down. When the number of leading comrades is odd, the head of No. 1 is centered, the head of No. 2 is ranked to the left of No. 1 head, the right of No. 3 is right, and the others are arranged in sequence; when the number of leading comrades is even, the No. 1 head and No. 2 head are simultaneously centered. , No. 1 head is arranged to the left of the center seat, No. 2 head is arranged to the right, and the others are arranged in order.

Arrangements for banquet seats

Banquet guests, usually the main escort is in the position facing the door, the deputy escort is opposite the main escort, guest 1 is on the right hand of the escort, guest 2 is on the left hand of the escort, and guest 3 is on the right hand of the escort No. 4 guest is in the left hand of the deputy, and others are free. The positions of the above escorts are mastered according to ordinary banquets. If the scene has special factors, it should be determined according to circumstances.

Seating arrangements for the signing ceremony

The signing host is on the left and the guest is on the right. The other numbers on both sides are generally equal, arranged by the subject and the guest.

Seating arrangements

Seat 1 is behind the driver's right, seat 2 is behind the driver, and seat 3 is next to the driver. (If there are three people in the back row, seat 3 is in the middle of the back row). The main seat of the middle car is in the first row behind the driver, and seat 1 is at the window. ^[2]

Meetings are often held in business contacts. Only in the meeting can we achieve the best results of the meeting only by paying attention to both reality and art. Here are some interview etiquette and techniques:

(1) It is best to name your surname when greeting. Stepping into the door of the meeting room, your first sentence might be: "Hello, I'm glad to see you." But it's better to say, "Mr. Wang, hello, I'm glad to see you." According to the test, later The former is much more enthusiastic than the former.

(2) If the other party does not invite you to sit down, you better stand. After sitting down, you should not smoke. If the other party asks you to smoke, you should say "Thank you." Please remember that you must not put soot and matchsticks on the floor.

(3) Begin to talk and cherish meeting time. Although the other party has learned some of your situation and purpose of the visit, you still need to take the initiative to speak. You can emphasize and explain some issues again. This not only reflects one's mental appearance, but also the need for politeness.

(4) Please do not rush to show the information, letters or gifts you bring with you. The best time to show them is when you mention these things and have aroused their interest. In addition, you must prepare in advance, when the other party asks the relevant questions in the information you carry, you should give a detailed explanation or explanation.

(5) Maintain corresponding enthusiasm. If you don't devote enough enthusiasm to a question during a conversation, the other party will immediately lose interest in discussing the issue.

(6) When anger is difficult to suppress, the meeting should be ended early. Anger can make you lose your objective measure of understanding others and controlling yourself. Not only does it not help the problem, it will make things worse.

(7) Learn the art of listening. There are two requirements for listening. First, allow time for the other party to speak, and second, listen to "obedient". If the other party speaks first, you must not interrupt the other party. Be prepared to respond to the other party at the right time and encourage them to continue speaking.

People who can't listen carefully to other people's conversations are not able to "obey the ears", let alone alert and cleverly answer each other's questions. Remember: Whether it's social occasions or at work, being good at listening is what one should deserve.

(8) Avoid bad movements and postures. Playing with the small things in your hand, occasionally tracing your hair, stirring your tongue, cleaning your teeth, picking your ears, staring at your nails, the ceiling, or the calligraphy and painting behind the other person, all these actions are unkind.

Nor should we forget our identities and pretend to be close and show off: "The two of us talk about nothing. I wouldn't mention it if we talk to others!" Slang and swear words should be avoided.

(9) Be good at "resolving hemp" and learn to express clearly. Good at expression will benefit people for life. People who don't speak in general, often cause people's resentment: People who have no focus on narrative and confused thinking often force people to avoid him as much as possible. Generally speaking, if you have never worried that others will have an aversion to your words, it means that you have already aroused the opposition of others.

(10) Be honest, frank, and temperate. If you make a fake on a small matter, it is likely that your entire effort will be lost. Once the other party suspects that you are dishonest, your extraordinary actions will be overshadowed. No one is perfect, so you can talk frankly or acknowledge your shortcomings or faults. When commenting on a third party, you should not lose your understanding of others, and the unrestrained use of harsh language will only make people doubt: "Who knows what day he may say me behind his back."

(11) Make a self-examination of tone and intonation. Record what you want to say for 5 minutes. Is the sound clear and the larynx and nasal sounds too heavy? How fast is the tone? Is the tone mature and bland? If you are not satisfied, record another paragraph after improvement. A vibrant tone will make you look younger. This skill focuses on practicing more often.

(12) If the other party's qualifications are lower than yours and your knowledge is relatively low, you should pay special attention to the self-explanation. When you introduce your enviable degree, etc., the other party must also talk about his corresponding situation. To avoid the other person's shame, you should be cautious when introducing yourself. You can express admiration for the other party. Excessive care and preaching should be avoided, showing sincerity and cooperative spirit.

(13) Pay attention to clothing and hair style. The first time you meet gives an untidy impression, which often casts a shadow on your self-confession. Entrepreneurs who are usually not trimmed should ask a knowledgeable person before the meeting, and let him design your clothes and hair style based on your age, body shape, occupation, and season.

(14) Don't forget to take away your hat, gloves, briefcase, etc. at the end of the meeting. The farewell should be concise and concise, and refrain from eliciting new topics when you leave, because there is no reason to think that farewell is the climax of the meeting. ^[3]

Introduction refers to the communication from which the two parties can establish a relationship. Introduction is the basic way to get to know each other in social situations. Introductions can shorten the distance between people for better conversation, more communication, and deeper understanding. There are several types of introductions commonly used in daily life and work, namely self-introduction, introduction for others, and collective introduction.

(A) self-introduction

Issues to be aware of when introducing yourself: When introducing yourself, in principle, you should pay attention to points such as time, attitude, and content.

1. Time: The issue of time that you should pay attention to when introducing yourself has a double meaning. On the one hand, consider when self-introduction should take place. It is generally believed that the best time to introduce yourself to others should be when the other party is free; when the other party is in a good mood; when the other party knows your interests; when the other party makes an initiative to recognize your request, and so on. On the other hand, consider how much time you should spend introducing yourself. It is generally believed that it takes about half a minute to introduce, and no more than one minute. Sometimes it is not wrong to use a few words and one sentence appropriately, which takes less than ten seconds.

2. Attitude: When introducing yourself, your attitude must be kind, natural, friendly, and confident. The introducer should have a natural expression, look at each other or everyone, and be good at expressing friendship with eyes, smiles, and natural and friendly facial expressions. Don't look overwhelmed, red-faced, red-eared, let alone a casual, indifferent look. When introducing, put your right hand on your left chest, don't panic, don't point your fingers at yourself.

3. Content: At the time of introduction, the full name of the person being introduced, the unit in which he / she is employed, the specific work undertaken, etc., are called the three major elements that make up the main content of the introduction. When introducing itself, its content has changed on the basis of the three major elements. Specifically, it can be divided into four forms based on the differences in the content of self-introduction.

The first is an entertainment type. It applies to general interpersonal contact, just briefly introduce yourself below. Such as "Hello! My name is ×××."

The second type is communication. It is also suitable for ordinary interpersonal communication, but is intended to seek to communicate or communicate with each other. The content can include my name, organization, nationality, and interests. For example: "Hello! My name is ×××, from Zhejiang. Now I work in a bank. Do you like to watch football? Hi, I am also a football fan."

The third is the working type. It takes work as the center of introduction and meets friends by work. The content should focus on my name, organization, and the specific nature of the job. For example: "Ladies and gentlemen, Hello everyone! I am very glad to have the opportunity to introduce me to everyone. My name is ×××, I am a business manager of Haifeng Company, specializing in marketing electrical appliances. If possible, I am willing to be there for you at any time. Everyone at the service. "

The fourth type is etiquette. It is suitable for formal and grand occasions, and it is a kind of self-introduction that has to be made out of politeness. In addition to the three essential elements, its content should be accompanied by friendly and humble sentences. For example: "Hello everyone! In this rare opportunity today, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is ×××, I am from Hangzhou ×× company. I am the company s public relations manager. Today, this is my first visit. When I came to the beautiful Xishuangbanna, this beautiful scenery suddenly attracted me deeply. I would like to stay here for a few more days and would like to meet all of you here. Thank you! "

(2) Introduction to others

To introduce to others, we must first understand whether the two parties have a desire to meet; second, we must follow the rules of introduction; and again, when introducing each other's name and work unit, we must find some common conversation materials for both parties, such as the common interests and common interests of both parties. Experience or mutual interest topics.

1. Introduction rules

Introduce men to women first. For example: "Miss Zhang, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Li."

Introduce young people to older people first. Among the two men of the same sex, the younger ones were first introduced to the older ones to show their respect for the seniors and the elders.

Introduce those with low status to those with high status. Obey the principle that people with high social status have the priority of knowing each other. Except for social occasions, the people with low social status are introduced to those with high social status in any other occasion.

Introduce the unmarried to the married. For example, if the unmarried woman is significantly older between the two women, she is introduced to the unmarried again.

Introduce the guest to the host.

The first comer will be introduced first.

2. Etiquette of introduction

Introducer's approach: When introducing, there must be an opening statement, such as: "Please let me introduce you, Miss Zhang, this is ------", "Please allow me to introduce, Mr. Li, this is ------ ". When making introductions for others, be gentle in gestures. Regardless of the side of the introduction, the palms of the hands should be facing up, the back of the hands should be facing down, four fingers close together, the thumbs open, pointing at the introduced side, and nodding at the other side and smiling. If necessary, explain the relationship between the introduced party and yourself so that new friends can understand and trust each other. The introducer should mainly introduce the sequence in the introduction, and the language should be clear and unambiguous, so that both parties can remember each other's name clearly. When introducing someone's advantages, be just right, and don't praise too much and cause embarrassment.

Introduced person's approach: As both parties being introduced, they should show enthusiasm for getting to know each other. Both parties should face each other face-to-face. In addition to the ladies and the elders, they should generally stand up, but if the talks are in progress, or at a banquet or other occasions, they don't have to get up and just greet them slightly. If it is convenient, after the introduction by the introducer, the two sides of the introducer should shake hands and greet each other with a smile and a shudder. Such as "Hello", "I'm glad to see you", "I'm honored to meet you", "Please advise me", "Please take care of me" and so on. Business cards can be exchanged if needed.

(3) Collective introduction

If two parties are introduced, one of them is an individual and the other is a collective, different methods should be adopted according to the specific situation.

1. Introduce a person to everyone. This method is mainly suitable for the introduction of seniors, seniors and special guests at major events. After the introduction, all guests can get to know the introducer themselves.

2. Introduce everyone to one person. This method is suitable for informal social activities to make young people or people with low status who want to meet more and more respected characters to meet their own needs, and other people will be those with high status and seniors. Introduce yourself to yourself; also suitable for formal social occasions, such as leaders interviewing labor models and people who have made outstanding contributions; also applicable to the mutual introduction of two social groups on an equal footing; podium seating at the opening meeting Introduction. There are two basic sequences for introducing everyone to a person: one is to introduce them in order of seats or teams; the other is to introduce them in ascending order of status. Don't introduce it casually, so as not to make the visitor feel like others, affect emotions. ^[4]

In interpersonal communication, a business card can not only promote yourself, but also quickly familiarize you with the other person. It is like a face you hold, not only to cherish it well, but also to know how to use it. A modern business card is a card that is designed to indicate your identity and facilitate interaction and work. Business cards can be used not only for self-introduction, but also for congratulations, thank you, visits, condolences, gift postscripts, notes, visitors Leave a message and so on.

(I) Content and classification of business cards

The basic content of a business card generally includes name, work unit, title,

With the increasing frequency of international business exchanges, many white-collar workers have begun to transform into "international people" who often fly around and interact with business people around the world. You need to fully understand the business etiquette of each country, which will affect your business work. Provide great help.

Hungary

Most of the Hungarian residents are Magyar, with a bold and oriental personality. Most business people attach great importance to business ethics. For business activities in Hungary, it is best to wear a dark conservative suit. When visiting government departments or large companies, it is absolutely necessary to set a time in advance. Hungary, like other Eastern European countries, likes to bargain when it comes to business negotiations. Generally, it must be discounted. The currency of the country is forint. It is forbidden to bring in and out of the country. There is no restriction on foreign currency entry, but the amount must be declared strictly. Tipping is discouraged, but privately it is still welcome.

Thailand

Suits should be worn when visiting government agencies at all levels in Thailand, but businessmen should be smart when they meet. To visit a large company or government department, you must make a reservation in advance and hold a business card in English, Thai and Chinese, which can be printed in two days. Thai importers and exporters are mainly Chinese. At present, Thai merchants are increasing, but most of them are government business. If you need to talk about business in Bangkok, it is best to rent a taxi, which will be convenient and save money. When dealing with Thais, don't brag about how the economy of your country is developed, otherwise they will think you are too arrogant, and in future interactions, you may intentionally embarrass you. Therefore, the humbler the better in front of Thai businessmen, the better they can cooperate with you. In addition, for business activities in Thailand, it is best to bring traveler's checks and pay with less or as little cash as possible. Doing business in Thailand must respect local canons. If you despise Thai temples, buddha statues, monks, etc., you are considered guilty. Take special care when shooting buddha statues, such as snuggling next to or riding on the buddha statues, which will cause uproar. You must walk barefoot into the temple. If you find a Buddhist altar in the house, take off your shoes, socks, and hat immediately. When you first arrive in Thailand, pay attention to the hands-on greetings of the locals. You can also follow this example. Thais attach great importance to the human head. They believe that the head is sacred and inviolable. Therefore, do not touch the head of others easily. Even loved children must never touch their heads with their hands, otherwise they will be regarded as disrespectful to the god that this child brings. If the elders are present, the younger must sit on the ground or kneel down, so as not to be higher than the elder's head, otherwise there is great disrespect. When a person is sitting, taboo others holding things over their heads. It is not polite to sit cross-legged in front of Thais. For example, when you sit down for business negotiations, do not expose the soles of your shoes. This is also considered a very unfriendly expression. Kicking the door with your feet will be spurned by the locals, and you ca nt use your feet to point to others. This is the most taboo action for Thais.

Austria

With the increasing economic exchanges between China and Austria, businessmen visiting Austria have been increasing year by year, and contact with Austrian businessmen must pay special attention to various etiquette, because Austrian businessmen are quite formal and serious. Pay special attention to titles when engaging in business activities. For example, if a foreign businessman mistakenly refers to the minister as the director, it will be troublesome in future negotiations. If communication with the Austrians is even more careful, it must be crowned with his official title. If there are several official titles printed on his business card at the same time, ask in advance which one is the most important, and add titles such as "PhD, Professor, Engineer, Economist". Regardless of the company or organization visiting, you must make an appointment in advance. Participation in business negotiations must be punctual. When meeting or breaking up, remember to shake hands with everyone. If you are invited to lunch, don't rush to pay, otherwise you will think that you look down on them, it is best to find a chance to return for lunch. If you are invited to dinner or listen to opera or theater after dinner, you do not need to return, but if you are invited to visit the house, remember to bring a bunch of flowers to show respect for the housewife. For business in Austria, February to April and September to November are appropriate. July and August are national holidays. In the two weeks before and after Christmas and Easter, major companies generally do not hold business negotiations or other activities.

United Kingdom

When coming to the UK for business activities, you must avoid July and August. During this period, people in the business community take more vacations. In addition, it is not appropriate to carry out business activities at Christmas and Easter. Gifts should not be given in the UK in order to avoid bribery. During business meetings, visit at the scheduled time, not early or late. People in the British business community are serious about their affairs, and do not take it easy to express their feelings and attitudes. They see it as boastful, boasting of their lack of education.

France

In France, the simple character of farmers can still be reflected in people's character. The French cherish their vacations very much, and they will spend all the money saved by a year's hard work without pity. Most French people go to bed early and get up early. They also have a high work density and take their work very seriously. The French people mainly focus on relying on their own strength, and rarely consider the collective strength, and the individual has a lot of authority. The organizational structure is simple, and there are only about two or three levels from lower management positions to higher management positions. Therefore, when engaged in negotiation, most of them are also undertaken by one person, and they are also responsible for decision-making. Each Frenchman has a wide range of work, can master several professions, and one person can handle many jobs.

When you negotiate with French people, they may ask to negotiate in French, even if they speak English very well. They rarely make concessions on this point unless they happen to be abroad and have a business need for you. If a French negotiator speaks English to you, then this is probably the biggest concession you might make on this day. They are cold but informal. Despite their indifference, they shake hands with you more often than you wash your hands.

France was silent in August, and the country was on vacation, making business impossible. Paris is almost nothing other than tourists, and the beaches of southern France are crowded. French people love vacations, and any inducement will not make them miss or postpone a vacation to negotiate. Their minds have shifted from business even in the last week of July, so you should try to avoid visiting France during this period. If you think you can persuade a French negotiator to take your proposal with you on vacation and study it carefully so that you can start the next step immediately after you return, then you are in vain. It's best to go to France to discuss business after September.

If you have established a friendly relationship with a French company for many years, mutual benefit and no disputes, then you will find that they are easy to work with. They will associate with you enthusiastically, entertain you with wine and food, and dispel the unpleasant past. In addition, French men and women are extremely sophisticated, which may be surprising. The best clothes you wear when talking about business are likely to be dwarfed by the clothes worn by your French counterparts. Therefore, wear the best clothes possible during the talks.

Germany

Germans are very good at business negotiations. If you are unfamiliar with your German negotiating opponent, you should call him "Mr. XX" (or "Doc. X. XX") instead of calling him by name. If the other party is a woman over 20 years old, you should call her "X "Mrs." should be dressed properly and used to wearing a suit on all occasions. No matter what you wear, don't put your hands in your pockets, as this is considered to be rude. If you are late in business negotiations, then the Germans' disgust aversion to you will be overblown. Therefore, you need to arrive on time, keeping in mind that they usually work earlier than the United States (before eight in the morning) and come off work later (sometimes until 8 pm). As long as your product meets the terms of the contract, you don't have to worry about payment.

Australia

Australia is made up of six states, each with its own constitution. Laws are also different, and regional concepts are strong among states. Railway and regional development, education, etc. are handled by the state governments. Australia mainly exports agriculture, mineral resources and imports of industrial products. Ninety per cent of the Australian population is of European descent, mostly calm, and doesn't like disrupting their living environment. Because of its vast size and sparse population, Australia attaches great importance to efficiency. During the negotiations, the negotiators sent by the Australian side must all have the right to decide. Therefore, we should also send people who have the same decision power, otherwise they will be very unhappy. They are extremely reluctant to waste time in empty talks that cannot make decisions, and when they talk about prices in negotiations, they do not like the other party to quote a high price, and then slowly reduce the price. They are extremely reluctant to waste time on bargaining. Therefore, most of them purchase goods by means of bidding, and do not give them a chance to bargain, so they must negotiate at the lowest price. Australians are more prejudiced, so negotiators must give a good first impression to make the negotiations go smoothly. The average employee in Australia obeys working hours, and will leave the office as soon as possible after work hours. However, the managerial level has a strong sense of responsibility, is enthusiastic about work, is unrestrained, and is happy to be entertained. It's important to note that you shouldn't assume that you've had a drink business together. Their idea is that hospitality goes to hospitality, which has nothing to do with business, and the public and private are clearly separated. In addition, due to the narrow scope of the Australian industry and the rapid dissemination of information, it is important to pay attention to the wording in the negotiations.

middle East

The Middle East includes Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan, Tunisia, Somalia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and other countries. The main ethnic groups in the Middle East are: Afghans, Iranians, Turks And the Arabs. The Arabs (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait) have a stubborn temperament and a stubborn temper. They do not easily believe in others, they are conservative, and they have a strong sense of family. In Arab society, the hierarchy is still deeply entrenched, and the host never does anything a servant does, even if the job is extremely easy. The color of feudalism is very strong. Doing business in the Arab countries makes it impossible to negotiate a deal with a phone call. When visiting a customer to sell a certain kind of goods, the first and second times are absolutely not allowed to talk about business. The third time can only be mentioned a little, and only after one or two visits can you enter the negotiation, that is, you must first Build friendships, or they will ignore you no matter how mature the conditions are. Iranians are optimistic by nature, physically fit, and sophisticated. In addition to non-Arab societies such as Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Israel in the Middle East, in areas where Arabic is spoken, Islam controls daily life, politics, and economy. Therefore, before engaging in commercial activities, you must first understand the four important aspects of religion, especially the Islamic canon, namely, worship, dedication, hunger strike, and pilgrimage. If you neglect these things, you will get into trouble. Once there was a story like this: After completing a courteous visit, a quite Japanese businessman sat in the car waiting outside, and the driver who knew Arabic went to pick up the cooling water. Wait a moment. He forgot that it happened to be during the local hunger strike, so he took out a cigarette and swallowed it. Local residents soon noticed that someone was smoking in the car and immediately gathered around the car, and some of them shouted with their fingers. Due to the lack of language, he was baffled and seemed inexplicable. Later, he thought that these people were curious and greeted them with a smile. As a result, the shouts of the local residents became louder and became out of control. Finally, it was after the police came to explain that it became clear that the local residents were accusing him of smoking, but he did not know why, but returned with a smile. As a result, they feel even more insulted, so that fueling the fire complicates the issue. The pilgrimage season is the best time to do business. Because according to their habits, when they go to visit Mecca, they buy household items and clothes. Therefore, local businessmen will rush to complete the goods before the pilgrimage season, which is generally based on consumer goods, so remember this season.

Switzerland

According to Swiss business etiquette, it is usually suitable to wear a three-piece suit. When visiting major companies or government agencies, you must book a time and remember to be punctual. General company or government agency executives work at 7-8 am in the morning. The Swiss are rigorous, conservative and respectful of credibility. But sometimes with a stubborn side, you must be patient when negotiating business with them. Once the other party decides to buy your product, it will be bought almost indefinitely. Conversely, if the other person shows the word "no", you don't need to continue to work hard. Because they rarely change their minds easily. Switzerland's bulk exports include precision and optical instruments, watches and clocks, machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, glass products, and food. Among them, watches and clocks are famous all over the world, and pharmaceutical exports rank first in the world. Switzerland stands for free trade and free competition. At present, it has established trade relations with more than 170 countries and regions in the world, but its focus is still on Western Europe. Germany is the largest trading partner. Keep the contract, be honest and honest, the Swiss are exemplary. Most of Switzerland's largest companies are located in Zurich, which is the country's largest city and also a hub for industry, commerce, finance, culture, and land and air transportation. The Swiss banking industry is very developed. There are more than 5,000 large and small banks in the country, three-fifths of which are headquartered in Zurich. Write a letter to the Swiss company. Just write the company's name on the envelope. Do not write the name of the person in charge. Because if the person is not present, the letter will not be read by others, and this is likely to be a mistake. Remember, Swiss businessmen are very interested in "brand-name" products. If your product brand is very hard, be sure to indicate the year the company was established on the envelope or letter paper, which will greatly increase the value of the product. According to the etiquette of Switzerland, never invite the other party for lunch or dinner on the first day of the meeting. You should wait for a few times for the two parties to meet, and then make an invitation. It is best to invite each other for dinner before leaving Switzerland. In case the other party refuses to go to the appointment, it does not matter, the business can still succeed. Swiss businessmen are generally unwilling to invite guests to dinner at home. If you receive an invitation, remember: first, bring flowers or candy to the hostess; second, go to the appointment on time. If you send red roses, you can give 1 or 20, but don't send 3, usually 3 are meant to be sent to the lover. For business activities in Switzerland, it is best to arrange in March, May, September, October and November. One week before Christmas and two weeks after Christmas, and one week before and after Easter, generally no events are arranged. Most of the vacation time is from June to August and February. There is no strict currency control in Switzerland for entering and leaving customs. Located in southern Central Europe, Switzerland covers an area of more than 40,000 square kilometers and has a population of nearly 7 million. German, French and Italian are the official languages.

Greece

China and Greece established diplomatic relations in June 1972. In recent years, the economic and trade relations between the two countries have developed steadily. In 1998, Sino-Greek trade was US $ 406 million, of which China's exports to Greece were US $ 385 million and imports from Greece were US $ 21 million. Greece's main export commodities are food, flue-cured tobacco, petroleum products, textiles, olive oil, cement and so on. Imported goods are mostly raw materials, crude oil, natural gas and lubricants, daily necessities and transportation equipment. According to Greek business etiquette, you can wear a three-piece suit when visiting government agencies and large enterprises. Generally, you need to make an appointment in advance. Greece implements winter and summer interest rates. In the summer (May-October), the working time is 7 am to 3 pm, and the winter time is 8 am to 4 pm. If appointments are required, it is generally two weeks in advance. In the course of business negotiations, be sure to wait for the other party to finish speaking, and never interrupt. You can't just ask questions unless it's particularly necessary, and doing so would be considered extremely impolite. At the end of business negotiations, it is very likely that you will encounter the usual cash payment method commonly used by Greek businessmen, which means D / P (Payment of Presentation) instead of L / C (Letter of Credit). Therefore, in order to avoid misunderstanding, you must ask Clear payment method. To talk about business in Greece, it is inevitable to drink strong coffee and Greek spirits. If you rashly refuse, it will be considered a great disrespect to the owner. Greeks are accustomed to Western food, like light taste, not greasy. They are willing to eat dry fried foods, and they like to drink ice water all year round. The customs of the Greeks are very interesting, with their necks tilted in affirmation, and heads up in negative. Both men, women, and children like to slap their tongues as a sign of desire or signal, and don't need to care about these. When doing business in Greece, remember that their palms should not face others, this is their most taboo action. Greece has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, with an average temperature of 6-13 ° C in winter and 23-33 ° C in summer. Therefore, it is appropriate to go to Greece for business activities from September to May.

South Africa

South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent, with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique to the north, and the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean to the east, south, and west. Most of the country has a tropical grassland climate. The highest temperature in summer is 32-38 ° C, and the lowest temperature in winter is minus 10--12 ° C. South Africa has good infrastructure, abundant resources and a high degree of economic openness. It is one of the most developed countries in Africa. GDP accounts for 22% of Africa and foreign trade accounts for 24% of Africa. Mining, manufacturing and agriculture are the three pillars of the national economy. South Africa's main export products are: gold, metals and their products, diamonds, food, beverages and tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment. Most of the imported products are: mechanical equipment, transportation equipment, chemical products, petroleum, etc. For business activities in South Africa, you can dress casually, participate in general business negotiations, and wear a two-piece or three-piece suit. South Africa is divided into four major races: black, white, colored and Asian. Most people believe in Christian Protestantism and Catholicism. English and Afrikaans are common languages. For business activities in South Africa, it is most convenient to hold an English business card. At business negotiation tables, only English conversations are allowed. South Africans rarely travel, so they can be visited all year round. The name of the South African currency is the rand. According to government regulations, there are no strict restrictions on the entry and exit of the rand. ^[6]