Finding local Chinese agents and representatives wanting to work with your company in China is never an issue (there are plenty), however there can be a real advantage in having good initial support from a local UK Chinese specialist. A locally based Chinese translator can more easily visit and get to understand the business and key objectives of the company before working with the management team to identifying the most appropriate people to work with in China. 

 

The first few visits to China are always a nervous time; often most of the business conversations are directed through Chinese translators with mixed experience met for the first time straight off the plane sometimes with limited experience of European business.

 

It can be the case that the UK Company is left unsure if key points they wanted to make were clearly translated and importantly how much has been understood by their hosts and how serious the hosts may be.  Local knowledge of Chinese culture may help in deciding for example if your potential partners or clients were simply being polite or were seriously interested in what you had to say and also of they had really understood everything that was presented?   

 

Having that early support from a local UK translator fluent in both languages and with the best interests of the company in mind could make all the difference.

There are also those basic cultural differences that lead to misunderstandings. It can be helpful for any management team planning to do business in China to discuss and agree strategic objectives and tactics with a specialist translator in the UK prior to making in country visits.  A professional UK Chinese translator can also provide an advantage when conducting pre and post visit discussions with potential partners to rapidly develop important relationships.