How do you verify Chinese business information and contacts?
There are a number of ways in which a UK company can verify and check the details of a Chinese company. You can start off by looking at information that is available online; you could Google the Chinese name of the company which will provide news about the company itself. You can file an online check with the Administration for Industry and Commerce in China which is the equivalent of Companies House in the UK. More detailed filing can be done locally where the AIC can provide you with dates of registration, key personnel information and shareholder information.
The second way to verify Chinese business information is to get references direct from companies, asking whom their suppliers and customers are. Local organisations like the Chamber of Commerce and CBBC can provide local knowledge of Asian contacts.
Thirdly, you could contact a company directly by phoning them to verify information. This option will usually provide a direct contact and provides accuracy of the information as its much more guaranteed. It is important to understand the language barriers and cultural differences, which is why it may be easier to have someone who speaks the language to do this on your behalf.