China is watching you. I am convinced about 99.9% of all emails go through. But to me, that means at least a few of the emails I send each week will not reach its destination. If I do not hear back from someone rather quickly, I just assume they did not get my email and
Excellent podcast/article on Technomic Asia’s Business Blog and Podcast, entitled, China calling: Direct Sales in China, [link no longer exists] on how direct sales just seem to correspond naturally to the concept of guanxi in China: Historically, sales in China have been based on guanxi. I get the sale, not necessarily because I have the
If one of our clients owes money to a Chinese company and it cannot pay all its creditors, our international dispute resolution lawyers recommend they pay the Chinese company last because the Chinese company will likely never sue to recover. I am NOT advocating not paying debts to Chinese creditors, but I am saying that
The internet is abuzz with news that Chris Devonshire-Ellis of China Briefing may have influenced movement in the Yuan-Dollar conversion rate by what is being described by Chinese governmental authorities as a “pure fabrication.” To summarize, China Briefing Magazine did a post claiming to have interviewed a Chinese governmental official who talked of the Yuan
I once ended up on the same Qingdao-Seoul-Seattle flight as a long-time client and friend of mine whose company, among other things, had been hugely successful in China in an industry where just about every other foreign company had failed. The long flights gave us a great opportunity to talk and we talked a lot
The Rules for China Toasting Though I am a complete lightweight as a drinker (I average maybe one alcoholic drink a month), I consider myself somewhat of a master of foreign business toasting. I have participated in well over a hundred toasting sessions with Chinese, Koreans, Thais, Turks, Mexicans, Spaniards, French and Russians, and the
In China everything can and is faked, even the JeAbsolutely fascinating story in today's Washington Post, entitled, Sold on a Stereotype: In China, a genre of self-help books purports to tell the secrets of making money "the Jewish way". Seems the Chinese think very highly of Jews, both for their perceived ability as businesspeople, and for their honesty and family values. China has some 50+ books focusing on emulating the Jewish path to success.
I just learned that Gibson Guitar will soon be returning to an industrial heartland, but in China's Liaoning Province this time. Gibson just purchased China's third-biggest piano maker, state-owned Dongbei Piano Group. Our international lawyers have lately been seeing more American and European companies getting their start at doing business in China by buying existing China companies/facilities.
We will be discussing the practical aspects of Chinese law and how it impacts business there. We will be telling you about what works and what does not and what you as a businessperson can do to use the law to your advantage. Our aim is to assist businesses already in China or planning to go into China, not to break new ground in legal theory or policy. We want to start a conversation with, for and about the person who wants to know "what is what" in China and the practical aspects of starting and growing a business in or involved with China.
