CHINA - FACTS AND FIGURES

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Hyper C

Area: 9, 571, 300 km2

Population: 1, 227 million (1995 estimate)

Population Growth: 1.5% (1995 estimate)

Capital: Beijing

Official Name: People's Republic of China

System of Government: Communist

Head of State: President Jiang Zemin

Communist Party Secretary: Jiang Zemin

Vice President: Rong Yiren

Premier: Li Peng

Key Government Ministers: Qian Qichen, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation; Liu Zhongli, Minister of Finance

Language: Putonghua, based on the Peking(Mandarin) dialect is the official state language taught in schools and spoken mainly in north China. Other major language families include; Shanghainese, Cantonese, Fukienese and Hakka dialects.

Literacy Rate: 73%

Ethnic Background: Han Chinese 92%, the remainder is made up of 56 different minority nationalities. (1990 Census results)

Religion: more than 50% of the population is estimated to be non-religious. Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism and Islam are some of the more prevalent religions which are practised.

Currency: Renminbi (or Yuan); 1 Rmb = 10 Jiao = 100 Fen
C$ 1.00 = 6.08 Rmb (average, week ending September 27, 1996)

If you are planning on travelling east for business, these tips are for you...

• Make appointments and BE ON TIME. If you miss the meeting altogether, you can kiss your business deal good-bye!
  
  
  • Give out your business card when you meet someone. Make sure there is a Chinese translation on one side of your card.
    
    
  • Shaking hands is the way to go during introductions. Greet people in order of seniority..that means say "hey" to the President of the company first!
    
    
  • Do not become impatient. Relax, chill out and prepare for long meetings.
    
    
  • Giving gifts is quite alright! Liquer, pen sets and products with your company logo on them are great ideas. Do not give clocks or cut flowers because they remind people of funerals.
    
    
  • The Chinese do not like answering "yes" or "no" questions. Hint: try to find an intelligent question to which they can answer more than "yes" or "no"!
    
    
  • If you want to take a person's picture, ask first (common courtesy, right?)
    

Some of this information was taken from the Information Series published by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. It is available in print format.

asie@tgmag.ca