Business etiquette: The heritage of Chinese culture in trade negotiations
Business etiquette: The heritage of Chinese culture in trade negotiations

Summary/Abstract: Chinese history and cultural traditions play a very important role in contemporary trade negotiations. The aim of this article is to present the cultural determinants of Chinese business etiquette and the most important elements of cultural heritage in Chinese business etiquette during trade negotiations. Assuming that negotiations consist of three main phases – exchanging information, bargaining, and closing - particular attention is paid in this paper to establishing cooperation (language, hierarchy), visits and delegations (greeting, proper negotiations, taboo topics), and other elements of business etiquette such as banquets and lunches, and gift-giving practices. The following thesis is formulated in this paper: in negotiations with Chinese people more important than immediate profit is the process of building a long-term relationship based on taking into account the business etiquette resulting from the heritage of Chinese culture.

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