This Business English Podcast episode on relationship building is part of an ongoing series on negotiation skills.
這節商務播客是正在進行的有關協商技巧的一部分。

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.
在協商中，在信任的基礎上建立一種良好的關機使雙方共同研究解決問題，共同克服困難，甚至將沖突轉化為生產力等成為可能。

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 是為手機用戶提供鈴聲和游戲的一家當地電信公司的老板。Peter的公司Textacular在丹麥的業績很好，同時Maxine的公司Gamester，以德國北部為主要市場。

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 正在制定一個計劃：他打算將公司賣給一家的歐洲范圍內的電信服務公司。為了增加公司的市值，以便能賣得更多的錢，Peter打算參與或買些其他類似本公司的服務。在今天的對話中，他正和Maxine吃午飯，來看她是否有興趣賣掉自己的公司。對話開始時，他們已經點了菜。

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?