Why did China put towels on the table during the meeting?

1. It is said that this habit of China people was invented by Premier Zhou. He often works late into the night or even early in the morning, so the waiter is required to always wear a towel and iron it with boiling water. Wiping your face can refresh you, so as to keep your head clear and continue your work. So did he at the meeting. Many officials thought it was cool, so they followed suit.

It originated from the etiquette of international conferences and can be traced back to the Treaty of Versailles in Europe. This is the first time to put a small towel on the conference table. Before the First World War, many countries still dominated the international war negotiations (especially the group negotiations involving the ownership of weapons and horses of prisoners of war in military stations). During the meeting, officials were equipped with ceremonial knives, and small towels were used as tablecloths for diplomatic and civilian personnel or major officials representing the country. Uncontrolled behavior, such as sword drawing and demonstration, can easily be misunderstood by the other side as provocation. On behalf of negotiators, they will throw white towels on the table at chaotic moments, which does not mean surrender, but only means that they have no intention of provoking each other, and the other party will throw towels to show reconciliation.

If the formality is not too high, it may be used for tea party in the middle of the meeting, or for wiping hands and sweating. More importantly, don't rub your pen in the water as a souvenir.