Company uses events to promote integration

Francesco Antonacci, chief controller at Pirelli Industrial Asia Pacific, found that, when he returned to Italy after working in China, he missed the country and longed to return.

At a recent communication activity held in Beijing by China National Chemical Corp, also known as ChemChina, Antonacci said despite the initial culture shock he experienced during his first visit to China in 2014, he has now integrated into the local culture and aims to improve his Chinese language to facilitate better communication.

The activity is part of an Italy-themed month event, which will run throughout June, held by ChemChina, which now holds 65 percent of Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli's shares. The event aims to promote bilateral communication and integration.

Paolo Battistini, industrial director at Pirelli Industrial Asia Pacific, said the language barrier was his main concern when he came to work in China in January. However, he commented that friendly cooperation with local colleagues helped him integrate into the working environment.

He came to China for the first time 11 years ago to visit Aeolus Tyre Co. Battistini said that, initially, he felt that Chinese were a little distant and aloof. However, as he learned more about Chinese culture, he said he found the people were actually very friendly and hospitable.

Giovanni Pomati, CEO at Pirelli Industrial Asia Pacific, first experienced Chinese culture about 10 years ago when Pirelli invested in a factory in Yanzhou in Shandong province.

Pomati said although there were some cultural differences between the two countries, workers from both countries shared good principles in common: engagement, proactivity, flexibility and result orientation.

After Mehmet Turan, technical and investments director at Pirelli Industrial Asia Pacific, came to China in February, he found that Chinese people were completely different from how they had been portrayed.

Turan recalled that once, when he was on a crowded subway train and unable to find space on the nearest grab rail, a lady smiled at him and shared her grabbing space with him. "She continued to smile and tried to communicate with me, but language was a barrier and we could not communicate," he said.

Despite the language barrier and other cultural differences, Turan said he found Chinese people "warm and very hospitable".

Sandra Colonna, responsible for institutional relationships at Pirelli Asia Pacific, said that, unlike many other people, she did not experience culture shock when she came to China two years ago. She learned Chinese at university and as a result had no problems with the language barrier.

Colonna was born in Italy and her mother is part-Chinese. She said that she grew up learning about both Chinese and Western cultures and long hoped to experience life in China.

"I am very lucky to have the opportunity to work at Pirelli and also cooperate with ChemChina, an important company in China," she said.

The communication activity aimed to encourage foreign employees at Pirelli to interact with their Chinese colleagues and discuss their feelings about work and life in China, the event's organizers said.

They said they hope to suggest solutions to some of the problems foreign colleagues may experience in China.

Bai Xinping, chairman at China National Tire and Rubber Co, a subsidiary of ChemChina, said: "Our Chinese employees need to learn about Pirelli's global culture and the employees from Pirelli also hope to know our culture."

According to Bai, employees from Pirelli supported and joined in the organization of the Italy-themed event. The participation was also a process for the two sides to promote communication and integration, Bai said.

Companies from countries such as France, Australia, Norway and Germany have joined the ChemChina family since the chemical giant started its internationalization process in 2006. It now has 48,000 overseas staff members.

Pirelli & C SpA, founded in 1872, is now one of the world's largest tire manufacturers with a presence in more than 160 countries and regions, providing products for both consumer and industrial use. The company has partnerships with many of the world's premium carmakers, such as Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo.

What they say

"I'm sure that Chinese and Western colleagues will have, based on common values, a positive and proactive cooperation."

Giovanni Pomati, CEO at Industrial Asia Pacific

"As my family is not in China, the warm people here help me better integrate into society here. Italy is an open nation. Italians are direct in their communication and willing to share their ideas. I'm sure that I will establish mutual trust with my Chinese colleagues."

Paolo Battistini, industrial director at Pirelli Industrial Asia Pacific

"For integration, I can say it's not difficult because I see the people are open-minded. They are ready to do something and share something with us. This is very important."

Mehmet Turan, technical and investments director at Pirelli Industrial Asia Pacific

"I was born in China and moved to Milan, Italy, with my family when I was in primary school. I came back to China about three years ago. I found China had changed a lot due to rapid development. It is becoming a country that will always look for more diversities and assimilate different cultures. This offers many opportunities and will help our integration."

Zhao Yaolu, M&A and investor relations specialist at Pirelli Industrial Asia Pacific

(China Daily 06/22/2016 page14)