Business Meeting Etiquette in China

1. Arrival, Punctuality, and Appearance

The Chinese assume that the first person that enters into a room at the beginning of a business meeting is the head of the group.

Important guests are shown to their seat and if the meeting room has a large central table, the principal guest/s, often Westerners, is/are usually seated opposite the principal host. Punctual arrival to meetings in China is very important as the Chinese consider Host Guest late arrival to be a serious insult.

When attending a business meeting in China, men should wear conservative suits in subtle colours, such as black, grey, or brown, while women should avoid high heels, short-sleeved blouses, and short skirts.

2. Greeting and Addressing the Chinese

When greeting Westerners, the Chinese usually shake hands; Westerners should use a soft, two-handed handshake and avoid eye contact as it is considered to be domineering. Alternatives to shaking hands include a slight nod, short bow, or applause, although the latter is typically reserved for larger groups of people.

In order to be polite and respectful, one should address the Chinese by using his or her family name, e.g. Mr. or Mrs. Lee. The Chinese family name comes first and is usually only one syllable long. The Chinese take formality very seriously as a sign of respect and Westerners should resist the habit of addressing their hosts informality until they are invited to do so.

3. Initiating Small Talk

Business meetings in China typically begin with “small talk”, regardless of how many people are present, and the first one may not involve any business discussion at all. When initiating small talk with the Chinese, one should avoid telling jokes—as they often do not translate well and may cause confusion or even offence—and asking personal questions about an individual