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Faced with exceptional circumstances – the enormous growth in the Chinese market – an exceptional response is required: the pooling of the main vital strengths brought about by the greater globalisation of French SMEs in the “China 2004” campaign.

This campaign should, in the coming two years, open up China to SMEs in a cautious and sustained way.

France is not very well represented in China, even though international companies of French origin are present there, and our economy is not taking sufficient advantage of the astounding growth and opportunities China offers. We are only in 14th place in the table of suppliers for a country whose export growth is the highest in the world. And yet 4,000 French companies are regularly exporting to Beijing, Shanghai and Canton and among them are 3,000 SMEs.

The SMEs have, in fact, several advantages in participating in a market where they operate together. The flexibility and responsiveness for which French SMEs are known are valuable attributes in a country undergoing such rapid economic expansion and where efficiency and haste are sometimes confused.

But before getting carried away, they should take into account the heavy outlay in time and money. To succeed, you have to be persistent. You must also be able to protect yourself. The idea of intellectual property, which is now recognised, is still very novel with counterfeiting still accounting for eight per cent of China’s GNP. It is thought to employ between five and six million people. The commitments undertaken by China on its entry into the WTO should, in the long term, curb this phenomenon. China already enables complaints to be registered for future investigation.

“Apart from the fascination it exerts in the business world, the largest market in the world is not approached like others,” says Olivier Candotti, Head of the Canton Economic Mission.

As a logical position to be in during a period of expansion, the Chinese authorities are looking for partnerships with Western SMEs. This is the direction the CCPIT (China Council for the Expansion of International Trade) is taking in its dealings with the CGPME.
In the next two years, over a million SMEs will realise that if they have the material and human resources, they will receive help and advice to enable them to take their first steps, provided they have an idea or a product of interest to the Chinese market. How many will get that far? “If we motivate a few dozen SMEs capable of embarking on a project and succeeding, we will have attained our objectives,” says Yves Capelle, “Mr China 2004”, the new President of the CGPME’s International Commission…

The gardens of Suzhou

The market for Chinese translation is expanding rapidly. Whereas in the 90s, Chinese translation was very expensive and used only for very large projects, demand has, since then, grown rapidly.

Of course, trade and contacts with China are developing.
In just a few clicks you can contact China over the Internet.
But the Chinese market cannot be approached like other markets.

There are a few points which are absolutely vital to know.
For example:

• A Chinese person never says no. Even in a professional context, the word “no” is never clear, to such an extent that negotiations start only when the contract has been drawn up and is about to be signed. It is then that the serious questions are asked.
• Humiliating a Chinese person is the worst insult you can inflict and it will never be forgiven,
• A gift is accepted using both hands and should be refused three times without letting go of it…

Translation involves rendering an accurate message in the Chinese person’s language and adapting it to the Chinese culture.
Interpreting serves as an interface between understanding and being understood.
In order to work with China, it is absolutely vital to have a professional translator: it would be a mistake to try and cut corners.

Translating from one language to another raises several adaptation issues.
The Chinese language consists of ideograms which are virtual pictures of speech – the translator’s interpretation of them is, therefore, of the utmost importance. It is easy in Chinese to misrepresent the meaning.

In order to work with China, you must be well informed.
If you have to speak directly with a Chinese person, make sure you have your own interpreter with you, even if the manufacturer from Canton or Beijing you are meeting has his own interpreter.

If you are interested or you are tempted by the Middle Kingdom, the CNCCEF [ All things Chinese

Catherine GRANELL
Manager CG Traduction & Interprétation

CG Traduction has launched its own blog which will help you choose the best automatic translation tools available at little cost