I have a letter in today's The Age.

John Garnaut misunderstands Chinese culture ("How we got China so wrong", BusinessDay, 13/7). He suggests that Rio Tinto's PR firm hands out envelopes full of cash to journalists attending events.

These "red envelopes", or lai see packets, are central parts of the Chinese gift-giving tradition. In traditional Chinese culture, the most appropriate gift is cash rather than, say, as in Australian culture, a bottle of wine. I give lai see to my colleagues, family members and even to my local shopkeepers around the Chinese New Year.

This is not a bribe, but an expression of my wish for their continued good luck in the year to come. I believe it is incorrect to suggest, based on the facts in the article, that Rio's activities are somehow improper.

Aron Ping D'Souza, editor, The Journal Jurisprudence, Melbourne

Published in The Age on 15 July 2009.