I am a mandarin speaker who has trained at Oxford University and Peking University; both these universities stressed clear and perfect translation skills. I spent a month freelance translating at the EU in Brussels concentrating on China’s environmental policies before the Copenhagen summit. I do not currently live in Shanghai, yet I have several contacts there which would be of use. I am very used to writing formal letters and building connections. I am very hard working and would be willing to work longer hours for the client. I would like to see clear results spring from my work, and will accordingly invest a lot of time in the project. I am not from China, yet this gives me the benefit of representing non-Chinese interests and getting the most out of a contact. My experience in China does, however, mean that I understand how to get the most out of contacts and how to create a framework of mutual benefit – a trait which I believe is necessary for cross-cultural relationships. I am obsessive about my mandarin skills, and strive to improve it every day. Consequently, my Chinese is of a level which reflects the language used in China and this can be essential in improving cementing relationships.