This Business English Podcast episode on relationship building is part of an ongoing series on negotiation skills.
这节商务播客是正在进行的有关协商技巧的一部分。

In negotiation, establishing a good relationship based on trust makes it possible to jointly search for creative solutions, to overcome blockage and even to turn conflict into a productive force.
在协商中，在信任的基础上建立一种良好的关机使双方共同研究解决问题，共同克服困难，甚至将冲突转化为生产力等成为可能。

Both Peter and Maxine are owners of local telecommunication services that provide mobile phone users with ring tones and games. Peter’s company, Textacular, has a significant presence in Denmark; meanwhile, Maxine’s company, Gamester, is based in northern Germany.
Peter 和 Maxine 是为手机用户提供铃声和游戏的一家当地电信公司的老板。Peter的公司Textacular在丹麦的业绩很好，同时Maxine的公司Gamester，以德国北部为主要市场。

Peter is working on a plan to sell his business to a large, European-wide telecom service provider. In an effort to increase his company’s value so that he can get more money for it, Peter wants to roll up or buy other local services like his. In today’s listening, he is having lunch with Maxine to find out whether she might be interested in selling her company. As the dialog starts, they have just ordered their food.
Peter 正在制定一个计划：他打算将公司卖给一家的欧洲范围内的电信服务公司。为了增加公司的市值，以便能卖得更多的钱，Peter打算参与或买些其他类似本公司的服务。在今天的对话中，他正和Maxine吃午饭，来看她是否有兴趣卖掉自己的公司。对话开始时，他们已经点了菜。

Listening Questions:
1) Have Peter and Maxine met before?
2) What does Peter say is his and Maxine’s “biggest overlapping concern?”
3) How does Peter bring up the subject of a possible merger between his and Maxine’s company?