What are the rituals, methods and activities for entertaining foreign guests in my country?

(1) Welcome and send-off

Welcoming and sending off is a common social etiquette. For foreign guests, it is usually necessary to arrange leaders at the corresponding level to greet and see off guests at the airport, station, or wharf, depending on their identity, the nature and purpose of the visit, international practices, and the relationship between the two countries. This is the first formal activity for foreign guests after entering the country. It is an important ceremonial activity in foreign exchanges, and all countries attach great importance to it.

For official visits by foreign heads of state or government, various countries often hold grand welcome and farewell ceremonies. A certain welcome ceremony is also held for the visit of military heads, such as arranging a review of the honor guard of the three services.

We generally do not hold a welcome ceremony for other visitors. However, for any delegation invited to visit, whether official or private, when they arrive or leave, officials (or relevant personnel) with corresponding status will be arranged to go to the airport (station, pier) to greet them. For foreigners, diplomatic envoys, experts, etc. who have been working in China for a long time, appropriate personnel must also be arranged to greet them when they leave their posts.

When organizing and arranging leaders to participate in welcome and farewell activities, you should pay attention to the following points:

1. Determine the specifications of the welcome and farewell.

The practices for greeting and sending off guests vary from country to country. There are many factors that determine the specifications of the welcome and farewell. Generally, it is mainly based on the identity of the visitor and the nature (purpose) of the visit, with appropriate consideration of the relationship between the two countries. At the same time, attention should be paid to international practices and a comprehensive balance should be carried out. Usually, when foreign guests arrive, they are greeted by leaders with equivalent or slightly lower positions (our leaders of the same level are arranged to host the meeting and banquet). In short, the identity of the host should be similar to that of the guests, and the principle should be to speak to the guests and be reciprocal. When leaders at the corresponding level are unable to come forward, they should explain to the guests out of politeness.

There should not be too many people greeting or seeing you off. Sometimes, according to the relations and political needs between the two countries, special receptions can be given, larger welcome and farewell scenes can be arranged, and leaders with higher status can personally go to the airport to greet them, etc. In order to avoid the impression of favoring one over the other, unless there is a special need, it is generally handled as usual.

2. Accurately grasp the arrival time of foreign guests, where they come from, and where they are going.

The reception staff must accurately grasp the arrival time of the guests and notify all greeting staff and relevant units as early as possible. To greet leaders and staff, you must arrive at the airport (station, terminal) in advance. It is necessary to know the parking location of the plane (exit door number), the platform where the train stops, and the car number in advance to avoid running back and forth or picking up passengers temporarily.

3. Give flowers.

When arranging a flower-laying event, please note:

(1) Flowers must be used and kept clean and bright. You should choose flowers according to the habits of the country you are visiting. Generally, chrysanthemums, azaleas, dianthus and yellow flowers should not be used.

(2) Young women or children usually present the flowers after the host shakes hands with the guests (gender crossover). The flower-presenters must be carefully selected (appearance, clothing, thoughts and conduct, etc.).

(3) Pay attention to the safety of flowers and taboo hobbies (if necessary, you can ask the public security department to check whether there are explosives). After purchasing flowers, make sure that the flowers are with you.

(4) Designate a special person to be responsible for carrying out this activity. If necessary, let the flower-presenting youth rehearse in advance.

4. Concierge introduction.

When the concierge makes an introduction, he usually introduces the Chinese host who comes to welcome the guest to the guest. When guests arrive for the first time, they are generally more reserved. The host should take the initiative to chat with the guests. Therefore, when guests get off the plane (car, boat), the greeting staff should take the initiative to welcome them. The protocol officer or greeting staff will first introduce the main leaders (positions and full names) of the Chinese party to welcome the guests, and other leaders Can be introduced concisely.

The main translator must always follow the main Chinese leaders and the guest of honor (translators, guards, and staff should pay attention to their positions and do not steal or block the camera). The protocol officer or receptionist should always take good care of the guest of honor when introducing other Chinese leaders, and do not neglect the guest of honor because he is busy introducing others (sometimes more than two translators can be provided).

5. Other matters needing attention.

(1) If the greeting staff has a higher position, a lounge (with drinks) should be arranged at the airport (station, terminal);

(2) If the guest is visiting for the first time, If the two parties do not know each other, contact them in advance or make a specific sign to facilitate the other party's identification; a dedicated person must be responsible for handing over luggage tickets and transporting luggage; the luggage of the group leader and VIPs must be picked up first, and someone must be sent to deliver it promptly so that they can be easily identified. Guests change clothes;

(3) Contact the immigration formalities, border defense and customs departments in advance for exemption from inspection;

(4) After guests arrive, they should allow some time for them to Take a short rest, change clothes, and then arrange activities;

(5) Foreign guests cannot be arranged to stay in non-foreign-related hotels;

(6) The venue for visits, sightseeing, meetings and other activities must be Understand in advance and be well aware of it;

(7) Prepare Chinese and foreign language schedules, and notify relevant personnel in a timely manner if there are any changes.

6. Travel arrangements and precautions.

(1) After the introduction, quickly guide the guests to get on the bus. If the host is arranged to accompany the car, please ask the guest to get in from the right door of the car, and the Chinese host to get in from the left door of the car. Sometimes guests sit on the seat of the local host first after getting on the bus. Generally, there is no need to ask the guest to move his seat (the concierge will inform the guest afterwards);

(2) For motorcades of state guests and large delegations, the fleet must be numbered in advance ;The main car of the state guest convoy must fly the national flags of both countries, and the convoy numbers are: 00, 0, 1, 01, one, 2, two, 02, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, etc.;

(3) When a multi-national envoy delegation is in the same delegation, they can take turns taking bus No. 1 (taking turns being the head of the delegation); or if there are foreign leaders from two regions in a delegation, they can take turns riding in the No. 1 bus when they visit different regions. A special car, taking turns to be the leader.

(2) Meetings and talks

In international exchanges, meetings and talks are a very important way of communication, because they are both ceremonial and substantive. There is a wide range of applications that can be carried out at different levels and by various aspects of people.

Meetings and talks between national leaders are undoubtedly of the most important nature. Historically, meetings and talks between leaders of some countries have led to compromises and understandings on major issues that were crucial to the fate of the people of various countries at that time, and have become historical events with far-reaching influence. For example, the meeting between Mao Yidong and Nixon in 1972 pointed out the direction for opening up Sino-US relations and laid the foundation for the meeting between Premier Zhou and Nixon.

1. Types of meetings and talks.

(1) Courtesy call;

(2) Return call;

(3) Official meeting; official talk);

(4)receive;

(5)summon;

(6)interview;

(7) Farewell call.

2. Several specific preparations.

(1) Agree on the time, place and attendees of the meeting or talks, and notify the Chinese and foreign parties of the attendees, time, place, specific arrangements, matters needing attention and notification of the meeting or talks; the Chinese host and those attending the meeting Chinese personnel should arrive at the meeting location in advance;

(2) Arrange the conference room: prepare enough seats, and arrange microphones (loudspeakers), flowers and bonsais, slogans, seat cards, tea, and drinks as needed. , snacks, etc.; for the signing ceremony, prepare the table-top national flag (hanging flag), the four treasures of the study and signature pens, etc.; the layout of the conference room and the arrangement of seats (see picture);

(3) Meeting and negotiation outline and Preparation of background materials (for leadership reference);

(4) Notify journalists;

(5) Welcome and usher; during the protocol introduction, first introduce the Chinese hosts one by one To foreign parties;

(6) Take a group photo.

(3) Banquets

1. Types of banquets.

A banquet is a common etiquette social activity. In terms of their nature, there are about three types:

(1) Ceremonial banquets. For example, banquets held to welcome state guests and celebrate important festivals such as National Day are all ceremonial needs and are ceremonial activities with protocol specifications and necessary protocol procedures.

(2)Social banquet. Held to express friendship and develop friendship, such as greetings, seeing off, and saying goodbye. The specifications of this kind of banquet are not particularly strict. They must be cordial, friendly, and the atmosphere is warm, so as to achieve the purpose of developing friendship.

(3) Work banquet. The parties participating in the banquet are held to solve specific work problems so that they can discuss during the banquet.

As far as the forms of banquets are concerned, the common ones include banquets, buffets (buffets) and cocktail receptions. Banquets can be divided into state banquet, banquet, dinner, luncheon, breakfast, and working breakfast, working lunch, and working dinner. The buffet, buffet-dinnkr, and cocktail reception are sometimes collectively referred to as reception.

In addition, tea parties can also be held to entertain guests. Tea parties are more particular about the selection of tea leaves and tea sets, and are usually held in the living room rather than the restaurant.

The above various banquet activities can be selected and used and properly arranged according to the purpose, nature, scale, number of participants and other relevant conditions of the event, and with reference to local customs, in order to achieve better results.

2. Several preparations for the banquet.

(1) Determine the purpose, name, object, scope and form, time and place, attendees, etc. of the banquet;

(2) Make invitations (no punctuation, written language) And send out invitations (invitations);

(3) Book meals and prepare menus in Chinese and foreign languages ??(pay attention to taboo foods and characteristics, and do not eat too many meals);

( 4) Banquet hall layout and inspection (menus, tableware, place cards, microphones, flowers, bonsai) and seat arrangements (pay attention to the order of tables, protocol order, and professional counterparts);

(5) Preparation of gifts and wrapping (put the host’s business card and the gift’s introduction in Chinese and foreign languages ??as needed), the gift must have local characteristics (non-commercialized) and have commemorative significance;

(6) Banquet program arrangements and on-site work ;

(7) Standard service and attire of waiters (serve food from the left side of the guest of honor and wine from the right side; used tableware is also removed from the right side, but the diners must be consulted. agree).

3. Etiquette when attending banquets and dining.

(1) Respond to invitations and respond on time; correctly grasp the time of attendance, neither arrive early nor be late;

(2) When going to a friend’s house for a banquet, give the hostess a bouquet Send flowers or a bottle of wine;

(3) Help or let ladies and elders sit down first; Communicate with most people, don’t just talk to acquaintances;

(4) The host toasts Stop eating and toast in the order of priority (according to official rank);

(5) Be a good host and guest at the banquet. The success of the banquet depends on the host's sincere hospitality, generous hospitality and meticulous and thoughtful organizational arrangements. In terms of etiquette, the host's responsibility is to make every guest feel welcomed by the host. When guests arrive, greet each guest with a handshake. The host also strives to give guests the opportunity to get to know each other and talk. Try to keep the conversation lively and interesting, and avoid inappropriate topics on camera. Master the speed of serving food and don't look at the watch frequently to show that you want guests to leave early.

When guests leave, they should say goodbye warmly, thank them for coming, etc.;

(6) Only toast, do not persuade or force people to drink, do not drink excessively, and do not drink too much; irrelevant personnel should not barge into the banquet without introduction. Toast in the hall;

(7) Eat small amounts of food and drink soup without making a sound, eat bread in small pieces, learn to ask people at the same table to pass food, and use toothpicks and wash basins correctly;

(8) Learn to use small towels and tableware correctly, and follow or refer to other people's methods when you don't know how to do it;

(9) Only take off your clothes with the consent of the owner;

(10 ) Except for the buffet, when leaving the banquet, don’t forget to say thank you and farewell to the host.

4. Table type and seat arrangement (see illustration)

1. Round table

2. Long table

3." U" shaped table

4. Table order and table shape

5. Invitation style

(4) Signing ceremony

1. Secretary prepares for work.

(1) Prepare Chinese and foreign language texts agreed upon by both parties;

(2) Agree on the signing time, location, main signers of both parties, etc.;

( 3) Notify the Chinese and foreign representatives and journalists attending the signing ceremony;

(4) Entrust the hotel to prepare the hall for the signing and prepare relevant arrangements;

(5) Inspect the signing hall Arrangements, such as Chinese and foreign text, signature pens and other stationery, banner content, flowers and bonsai, microphones and amplification equipment, steps for group photos, etc.

2. Reference procedures for the signing ceremony (see attached picture).

First, the emcee announced that the signing ceremony has officially begun;

Second, the relevant persons in charge from both Chinese and foreign parties are invited to stand on both sides of the rostrum;

Third, the Chinese representative will deliver a speech and briefly introduce the background of the signing;

Fourth, Mr. XXX will be asked to read the text of the agreement in Chinese, and Mr. >Fifth, ask the chief signers of both parties to sit down, and ask representatives of both parties to sign the agreement;

Sixth, exchange texts;

Seventh, ask the waiter to serve champagne, please everyone *** toasted to celebrate;

Eighth, the Chinese and foreign parties took a group photo;

Ninth, the emcee announced the end of the signing ceremony.

(5) Attend cultural and entertainment activities (watching theater, listening to music, entertainment parties, etc.)

1. Arrangement of cultural and entertainment activities.

·Review and select programs to avoid those that are likely to cause misunderstandings and conflicts;

·Send invitations and arrange seats;

·Prepare performances Foreign language instructions;

·Enrollment and exit of special performances. The general audience should be seated first, and the VIPs should be seated only a few minutes before the performance. After the VIPs leave first, other audience members can leave as a courtesy;

·Present flowers. Flower baskets were prepared in advance and carried onto the stage by the hostess;

·Take a group photo. Arrangements should be made in advance for relevant leaders and foreign guests to take photos with the actors on stage.

2. Etiquette for attending theatrical evenings (performances).

·Wear dark and appropriate evening clothes;

·Take off your hat after taking your seat;

·Observe the order of entry and exit;

·Applause after the performance. If necessary, arrange to send flower baskets and take photos on stage.

(6) Visits

·Determine tourist spots based on the purpose and nature of the visit, the wishes, interests and characteristics of the guests, and select certain visit items based on local realities and possibilities;

·Arrange the tour route and layout in advance;

·Arrange the accompanying work of the leader and introduce the situation;

·Do a good job in photography and security.