Expert: Terry Thatcher Waltz - 6/14/2007

Question
People keep talking about China and its probable dominance in the world after few years (economically). I want to understand that what is that which will make China a superpower in this competitive age esp when it comes to manufacturing and s/w outsourcing. What will be the scope of outsiders (english speaking people) in China that time. Heard chinese are trying to be good at English then will it be advantageous to learn Mandarin?

Answer
Of course it will be advantageous! Would you want to depend only on what the people on the other side of the business negotiations TELL you is going on?  Of course not! You want to be able to know for yourself, even if you let everyone speak English during the meetings and just keep quiet about your knowledge of Chinese.
There are and have been major issues in China concerning a lack of trained managers and quality management in general. For those positions, foreigners have traditionally been the solution thus far, although more and more Chinese are qualified to fill them. But as a foreign businessperson, you will always have a role if you are dealing with a Chinese factory or company. As for language, you will be able to source better and more cheaply if you can get beyond those companies which provide materials in English and deal with the vast majority which do not...and more potential sources = lower cost and more profit.