A little tip:

First of all, China, with its unique history and culture, is a country with its own ideology of etiquette, which is a code of integrity, dignity, and pride, centered on the importance of family values.

With this philosophy, the daily life is governed rather by this code in emphasizing the family relationships, than by the laws like it here in North America. This would explain why the Chinese expect more personal relations (the Guanxi), but less contract importance.

In business, as in all other sectors of social life, WE (inside the family circle) and YOU (outside of the family circle) are well distinguished.

With the tradition of etiquette, we can understand that the “face value” is so important, that when a guest is received, they often give him a warm welcoming atmosphere, perhaps with a good banquet and so on. It is the reason that people say the Chinese are very kind, but that does not necessarily mean that an individual is well received into their family circle (to be believed by the Chinese).

So an individual could be received cordially, but it is far from being deemed like a family member.

Then, if one always translates his/her French in China, and has only a few days’ stay over there each two years without having lived among Chinese families, he surely can never become a China specialist. The Chinese do not trust somebody who speaks via an interpreter! And this phenomenon applies to each culture: the Quebecker do not trust either in people who stay just a few days here in Quebec, particularly when he does not speak French.

The team of Chine-Québec consists of Quebeckers who have lived in China for a long time and who speak perfect Mandarin. These are true specialists on China!