A few days ago, I read a very interesting article about
a business meeting etiquette in China and I would like to add and emphasize more about it.
Personal relations are extremely important when doing
business in China. That is why business dinners should be as essential as the
business meeting itself. It is your chance to build a good rapport with your
partners and earn their trust.
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| photo from business-in-asia.com |
Time. Dinners are
usually scheduled at 6pm or 6:30pm in the mainland while in Hong Kong, it
usually starts at 8pm.
General seating
arrangement. The highest ranking person hosting the dinner takes the head
of the table, seated in the direction that faces the door. If the table is
round, the highest ranking person of the other business will be seated to his
right. If a rectangular table is used, that person will be seated directly
across him.
If you are the one hosting the dinner, you will be taking
the seat that faces the door. A napkin in a glass which is sticking out higher than
the rest is also used to indicate the spot of the highest ranking delegate. The
host is also the first person to eat during the meal.
Pouring of drinks.
You never pour your own drink in a business dinner in China. The person on
either side of you does that. Conversely, it is your responsibility to pour
drinks for them. You have to make sure that their glass never goes empty.
Cutlery and
chopsticks. Your potential business partners will appreciate it if you know
how to use chopsticks. But do not put too much pressure on yourself if you do not
know how to. Cutlery are available during the banquet and using them is not exactly frowned upon.
Refusing food. Never
decline anything that is offered to you. If you served something that you
prefer not to eat (delicacies like fish eyes), do not show displeasure about
it. Take little bites around the food if you really cannot bear eating it.
Leaving the plate
empty. Leaving your plate empty means that you still want more. Therefore,
they will continue to refill your bowl. If you are already full, leave just a
little amount of food so they will not serve you more. The same goes for
teacups: leave a little at the bottom if you do not want it to be refilled
anymore.
Flat plates and bowls.
It is acceptable to lift the rice bowl when eating especially when it is nearly
empty. However, lifting a flat plate may be frowned upon.
Slurping.
Slurping and belching noises are common so do not be offended to hear them. In
their culture, it simply means that they are enjoying their food.
Refusing alcohol.
The sense of camaraderie is also expressed in joining the group for a drink. If
you want to abstain from drinking, it is best to attribute health reasons instead of saying it is a personal choice. This is a very polite way of declining their drink.
Reciprocating. Dinners
are considered a gesture of kindness. In Chinese culture, every gesture of
kindness is best reciprocated. Therefore, it is best to invite your host to
your own banquet as a sign of appreciation. But remember to not be too lavish in your
own banquet as it might embarrass the former host.
There are many more protocols that you will learn as you go
along. Your business partners will understand if you breach a few of them,
especially by accident. However, it is best to learn every little bit of their dining
etiquette as it can be essential to clinching a successful business deal.
Have you experienced dining with Chinese people recently? What other etiquette points should we remember?
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