My business partners from China invited me to a conference in November. They pay for flight and accommodation. Looks like i'm a very important customer for them. I assume they need me as trading partner for Europe. What do you think?
Hit them up for as much money as possible. Make sure to text them on whatsapp first and tell them "daddy is sitting next to me, PAY UP or else!"
Make sure it is a round trip ticket. My son got a teaching job in China and said it was a great experience. The police did come to visit him a few times to make sure he didn't overstay.
We're a small manufacturer of communication devices for industry and robotics, M-to-M over WiFi, radar surveillance of traffic junctions, etc. Our customers are mostly in Europe, but we use Chinese components because of the competitive price. Chinese stuff saves money despite import costs and is not inferior in quality to Western products.
Hey, do me a favor, take some pics of the food and describe what it is and how it tastes. I used to go to Chinatown in NYC, the food was fantastic, but they said it was Americanized and that we Americans really wouldn't like what they actually eat in China. If you could do that I'd really appreciate it. And good luck and fortune on your trip.
China helped a family from my church become very rich. The mother designed and sold a unique line of children's clothes. When the demand was high..she looked for organizations to manufacture higher volume...US ...Mexico...no takers. But a poor family in China took it on, and then their neighbors . Now these Chinese families are up on the social status. China even put them at the head of the line to buy a car! They have a great relationship with the owners of the company. Chinese people are very interesting .
Probably. I would probably accept the invitation. You get a "free trip and hotel accommodations" and maybe some great food and entertainment. And the worst that you can do to them is just say "no" if you don't like the deal they are offering. This is how Chinese businesses usually handle their international business affairs. I do know China is trying to increase its presence in trade in Europe. Since they are outside of the EU, they are finding that bureaucracy is more cumbersome than they realized. So, they need European partners to facilitate the trade and to minimize any the bureaucracy that they can achieve in order to make money on the deal.
The biggest resource that China has is its people and they are natural business entrepreneurs that I have seen in my experience. Ironically, the Chinese person is also very materialistic, more so than in America despite their form of government.
I know it's very easy to insult asians unintentionally. If I'd decline the invitation, that would probably be such an insult. The worst case would be that they wouldn't sell me anything anymore, because I offended them. This would be a disaster for my business. So you see, I'm already dependent on them. Btw, I assume they want me as their European sales partner or field application engineer. They'll tell me, I'm sure. So far, the Chinese have been very reliable and friendly to me.
Low price for my customers, makes my company popular in the market. My customers aren't noobs. They know that the cheap price is due to Chinese components.
You should take someone from Africa with you, it always looks good. (sounds of pages turning) Hey! I've some free time! When shall I expect a ticket?
I disapprove of that and would notice it anyway! We strongly reject customers and suppliers who engage in political extremism. China is welcome as long as they do fair business. We once had an inquiry from "Israel" war ministry regarding our patented soft starter for DC motors. They needed it for their military submarines.
It is not whether or not to say no, but how you say no. Also bear in mind that a yes is not always a yes in Asian culture too. If you go to China and view their offer, you can still say no to the deal because of reasons A, B, or C. They will probably counteroffer you in order to meet your reasons or they may simply walk away and look for someone else.
My travel to china begins next Sunday at 8:00-AM in Hanover. 10 days are planned. After business, i'll go to a mosque to pray to ALLAH with my chinese brothers and sisters.
Maybe learn a few words if you don't have any. Ni hao, is Hello. The way to say it is 'knee how'. I will now try to write stuff in clumsy similar English sounds hence: The closest way to say 'thank you' for English speakers would be somewhere in between 'sure sure or 'share share'. Anything with 'ma' on the end is a question, which would make 'knee how ma" a question asking or enquiring 'how are you?' Wo (woah) is me or I. So to say 'I'm fine' is 'woah hen how'. Goodbye is 'sigh jen'.
I heard that China is kidnapping business people. They're not letting them leave the country. Be careful!!
