Seeing China for what it really is...
There is a myth being propagated that face is a big thing in business in China (actually all over East Asia), but it comes in many shapes and forms and is definitely not as “Neanderthalistic” as one would have you believe.
Admittedly there are regional differences, and most definitely differences between tier 1 cities and some village in a mountain valley, but it can always be summed up quite easily…
Seeing China for what it really is...
How many times have someone told you that they know how to do business in China and tried to sell some consulting type service in the process?
I suggest you ask them where in China they mean… There is a vast difference in doing business in different regions in China, between 1st tier, 2nd tier and 3rd tier cities and even within the larger cities there are differences.
Seeing China for what it really is...
There seem to be a special storage facility in all Chinese airports where foreign business people coming to China gets to check-in their brains and leave it in storage for the extent of the trip.
Why would you sign a contract in Chinese under Chinese law with a Chinese? As a foreign company there is no reason WHAT SO EVER to accept a Chinese contract, Chinese contract law or Chinese legal jurisdiction – be a little smarter…