DIALOGUE

The Beijing office of German Lanjing Corporation began its operation a month ago.To expand its business with China,Mr.Hutt (H),deputy general manager of Beijing office,meets with Mr.Tang (T),manager of the China National Technical Import Corporation,and enquires for information regarding the bid for a power engineering project.

H:Mr.Tang,it’s a great pleasure for me to call on you today soon after I arrived at my post in Beijing.

T:Congratulations on your taking office in Beijing.I wish you every success.

H:Thank you.I will do my best to promote business between us in the days to come.

T:So far,cooperation between our two corporations has been satisfactory.Of course it will be further promoted in the future,I hope.

H:Quite right.That’s the aim of our corporation and meanwhile my most important mission.

T:Since China has pursued a socialist market economy,its foreign trade has been developing at a faster pace.Our trade practice is more flexible than before.I’m sure you know all this,right?

H:Yes,I do.What’s more,I am very much interested in the new developments in China.I’ve heard that your company is prepared to call for a bid for a power engineering construction project in Southeast China,is that true?

T:Yes,it is time to make arrangements now for invitation to be sent out.You are well informed!

H:When do you intend to start the invitation to tender?

T:We expect to send the tender invitations sometime next month.

H:What kind of equipment would you like to buy?

T:The item we’d like to buy is the advanced electric generator.

H:What’s the time set for the bidders to submit their bids?

T:The time period for bidding is temporarily set from 10th October to the end of October.

H:To whom will the bid be sent?

T:You may send it to:International Tendering Department,China National Technical Import Corporation,Er Li Gou,Xijiao,Beijing,China 100044.

H:Should the bidders make a cash deposit?

T:Yes,certainly.According to the international practice,bidders need to hand in a cash deposit or a letter of guarantee from a commercial bank.If one fails to win the award,the cash deposit or the letter of guarantee will be returned to the bidder within one week after the decision on award is declared.

H:When do you expect to open the tender? And where?

T:1st of November,in Beijing.

H:Is tender-opening done publicly?

T:Yes,tender-opening is done publicly this time; all the bidders will be invited to join us to supervise the opening.

H:Would you please let me know something more about your conditions for a tender?

T:Invitations will be sent next month,from which you can find the details.

H:Our corporation is very much interested.In this tender,we will try our best to win the award.

T:I understand fully how you feel.If the conditions of your tender prove to be most suitable,of course we’ll accept your tender.

H:Mr.Tang,I’ve asked too much today,I’m afraid.

T:That’s all right.You may contact Mr.Wu Changbiao,our staff member for further detail,or talk to me directly,if you like.

H:Fine.Thank you very much.Let’s keep in close touch with each other now and in the future.