Day 16 *Business in China*

As usual, we had our APPG lesson early in the morning. Mr. Chua went through the lab one more time as we are going to sit for the lab test on Friday. After APPG lesson, Mr. Tian Hui came to our class again. He talked about the China’s economy again. Maybe is because of the tour to ECO city yesterday, I felt that I can understand better about the things on TEDA compared to last time. Apart from that, Mr. Tian shared some of his own experience working with people from various countries. I felt that I was more interested in his own experience compared to the facts that he told us. He worked with people from Singapore, America, German, Korea and also Japan.


Mr. Tian told us that it was easier to work with Singaporean in terms of communication. This is because Singapore business men have much better understanding of Chinese culture compared with other countries. After Singapore, he continue his experience that work with Japanese and Koreans. I get some information from CCTV that Japanese and Koreans are very serious towards their business. I doubt on how serious they are. But after being told by Mr. Tian, I know started to respect their working attitude. They will be very serious during the working time but when comes to drink, it is more in the relax form. For them, it is a respect to “drink until you drunk”. As the Chinese always say,不醉不归. I think that the Chinese also will think that is a RESPECT to finish the drink that others poured for you. However, they normally do not pour for themselves but for others. As for the Americans, they are more relaxed as long as you are serious when it comes to business discussion.

This is what we could not find from books. I would like to thank him for sharing his own experiences with us. Besides, we know that it is not easy to start a business in China, a place where you get find many competitors. There is a different of retirement age between Singapore and China. In china, the male retire at the age of 60 while the female retire at the age of 55. However in Singapore, both male and female are the same, around 62 to 65 years old.

Even though the talk only last for an hour, but I learnt quite a number of things from him. My relative is having a business in China; maybe the information could help him too! (: