ABSTRACT
Economic diplomacy is typically characterised not only by the negotiation preferences formulated before a negotiation round, but also by the final decision-making at the negotiation table such is the making of a compromise outcome. Rationalists, cognitivists, and contractualists commonly assume that international agencies are effective mediators of multilateral processes. Where they differ is in the type of cognition which is altered by mediation and the steps international agencies have to take to be effective. Shuttle diplomacy is the act of meeting country representatives abroad to discuss contentious cross-border issues. The inter-personal meetings held in the course of the shuttle diplomacy are known as proximity talks. Informal negotiation practices (INPs), often facilitated by members of international agencies during the negotiation process, can modify China's expectations, strategies, and posture, all of which underline their approach to the negotiations. The triangular relationship between expectation, trust, and personal reputation essentially shapes China's international posture.
