Approaching the Chinese firm first (6)
I believe the answer is:
coming
'approaching' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'the chinese firm first' is the wordplay.
'the chinese' becomes 'ming' (Chinese dynasty).
'firm' becomes 'co' (a firm is a company).
'first' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'ming' put after 'co' is 'COMING'.
(Other definitions for coming that I've seen before include "When adulthood begins" , "assured of future success" , "Approaching" , "On the way" , "Advent" .)