ent in China can be complicated by the separation of the two elements that basically characterize international companies: import/export authority and aggressive marketing expertise.
Only those companies that have been authorized by the central government to handle export and import business are permitted to sign import and export contracts. The fact that at the end of 1994 more than 8,000 Chinese firms had that authority (up from 10 or so 15 years prior) demonstrates the Chinese commitment to international business. With careful selection, training and strong communication, American companies can obtain good market representation from Chinese partners ("Country Commercial Guide: China," 1999, p. 5).
In China, getting around the country can sometimes prove problematic. Domestic airline travel is often difficult to book, and sometimes unreliable. Travel by rail is reliable but slow and often crowded. As with air travel, booking can be a difficulty on railways, as well. Despite these difficulties, travel permits previously issued by the Public Security Bureau are no longer required for travel to most destinations of interest to foreign business people.
China's telephone system is undergoing rapid development, and service quality spans a wide range, from state-of-the-art digital exchanges and cellular systems to the outdated older parts of the system. Generally, in major cities, the new digital exchanges provide good local service as well as high quality international phone and fax service. Domestic long distance is available but of varying quality: transmission quality is often poor and service unreliable. Because of a shortage of telephone lines, it can take up to one year to obtain a new telephone connection. Both paging services and cellular phones are available, but inconsistency in the frequencies used between large cities, roaming service is not available. There is, however, sufficient technology for most glob...