The China Venture

3.4.2.4 Conversation at the first meeting
Chinese and Swiss/German people touch on different conversational topics at the first
meeting. Europeans like to talk about things which just happened, what they studied or about
their carrier, their own norms, exclusive hobbies, weekend or holiday events or about the
inability of other people. Chinese tell about their own background, what they studied, their
carrier, their stay abroad, food and drinks (very important!), international events, economic
development, help and support offers, social relations and about everything, that is pleasant
and gives a good feeling. 131
There are some topics you should not mention when you get to know your Chinese partner:
• Do not praise yourself or a member of your family. However, it would be nice to praise the
person you are talking to.
• Do not make any critical or debasing remarks on anything.
• Do not mention negative events like illness, misfortune, accident, etc.
• Do not forget to show your positive sympathy and your personal interest for the well-being
and welfare of the person you talk to.
• Do not start controversial discussions.
• Do not try to talk immediately about topics which could end in a conflict.
• Do not get too near to your partner. 132
Germany: China:
Offensive, direct indirect defensive
Active reactive, wait and see
Critical take note of the communication
Purposive purposive, reserved
Analytical, systematically systematically
Innovative, dynamically adaptable, open minded
Emotional, engaged calm, self-controlled
like a good colleague respectful, hierarchically distanced
TABLE 3-20: Communication behaviour at the first meeting 133
In short, it can be said that a German or Swiss tries to distinguish himself positively from
others, that means he tries to present himself to be better than others. He does this by stressing
131 Zailing/Reisch, 1994, p. 10.
132 Zailing/Reisch, 1994, p. 9.
133 Zailing/Reisch, 1994, p. 9.
131