Time to fully embrace English to bolster China's global clout

Last week in London, Wang Jianlin, billionaire chairman of Dalian Wanda Group Co, launched The Wanda Way, the English version of his book in Mandarin that has been already reprinted 15 times and sold 1 million copies.

What gives? Wang wants the world to read his book and understand Chinese business philosophy. Like Wang, it is crucial for China, including corporate China, to embrace English fully - and stop using it incorrectly. Value-added Chinese human resources are going to be as important as the upgrading of the manufacturing sector.

Why English? Well, no other language matches its global reach. Reliance on translation apps can take you only so far. According to a reviewer of a new English-language autobiography of an Indian "nationalist" media tycoon, "English gives... respect...clout, a visiting card in the corridors of power..."

It is a no-brainer actually. Yet, some may argue that if China could emerge as the world's second-largest economy over the past three decades and even host the Olympics without really mastering English at the grass-roots level, why bother now? That is a specious argument.

Things are changing. China's political, financial, trade and cultural links with the rest of the world are deepening. Chinese corporate tentacles are spreading globally through mergers, acquisitions, overseas expansions, international projects and listings on foreign bourses.

China continues to actively seek foreign investment. It now leads to new multilateral financial institutions. In addition, China has eased permanent residency rules to attract more foreign talent, especially students and professionals. Foreign universities are seeking to set up campuses in China.

There will a tremendous need for Chinese professionals, executives, academics and government officials who can communicate in other languages, particularly English. Wang implied as much in London. "It is vital for Dalian Wanda to hire bilingual staff as part of its globalization plan," he said.

President Xi Jinping, during his Feb 19 visits to major media organizations in Beijing, said: "China should enhance its international communication capacity, strengthen its voice in the world arena and tell China's story well."

English skills are key to accomplishing that.

In the next five years, China's middle class will likely grow by 100 million as lower-income people from rural areas get urbanized. The coming automation wave, and factors like expected layoffs by firms ridden with overcapacity and rising labor costs, and by zombie companies, will push low-skilled millions to seek alternative employment.

Setting up call centers in China for the world's companies could help. My Chinese colleagues' felicity of expression in English has convinced me the locals have a natural ability to speak the language with an attractive Western accent. That, coupled with advances in telecommunications, could help establish China as the call center capital of the world, potentially dethroning India.

As trade barriers fall, e-commerce will go global. Overseas consumers will buy made-in-China products on online platforms such as JD, Tmall and Taobao. Chinese shoppers will buy the world online. Also, Chinese tourists, executives, officials, entrepreneurs, students and consumers will travel the world. Communications will rise exponentially on either side.

To meet such needs, English institutes will be required in China, which would create new jobs. Embracing English would also brighten the image of China's manufacturing sector.

How? Often, consumers read user manuals first before using the product itself. First impressions matter. For long, user guides in poor English have been savaging the image of China in general and its manufactured goods in particular. So, manuals in professional-grade English could help change that perception.

Similarly, marketing brochures, signage, tourist maps, corporate, e-commerce and government websites, and announcements on public transport systems, if also done in proper English, would help project a world-friendly China.

The launch and sustenance of China Daily, a global newspaper in English, underscores the point.

The globalized world, engulfed by "startupism", will crave the secrets of success of legendary entrepreneurs such as Jack Ma (executive chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd), Lei Jun (CEO of Xiaomi Corp), Robin Li (CEO of Baidu Inc), Pony Ma Huateng (CEO of Tencent Holdings Ltd) and Richard Liu (CEO of JD.com Inc). I wish famous Chinese businessmen, thinkers and academics would emulate Wanda's Wang.

To "tell China's story well", English is imperative.

As a postscript, I am inclined to urge my non-Chinese colleagues and friends to think nothing of the 80 yuan ($12) ticket but unhesitatingly go watch Mermaid, the brilliant Chinese 3-D fantasy-comedy with a beautiful environmental message, at a cinema because the blockbuster is complete with very good English subtitles.

Contact the writer at siva@chinadaily.com.cn

Wang Jianlin (right), chairman of Dalian Wanda Group Co, attends a ceremony to introduce the English version of his book in Mandarin - The Wanda Way - at the British Museum in London. The book has been well-received in China and has been reprinted 15 times.Li Wensha / China Daily