China Daily – Carola McGiffert
“When President Xi Jinping visited the United States in September he joined President Barack Obama in launching the 1 Million Strong Initiative, which aims to have 1 million American students at the K-12 level learning Mandarin by 2020…The benefits are clear: understanding China is no longer an option for Americans, but rather a requirement. Our next generation of leaders, regardless of which professional path they pursue, must have a deep understanding of China to effectively manage the most important bilateral relationship in the world, that between the US and China. No relationship is more consequential, with significant global impact…Whether a young American entering the workforce chooses a career in the Foreign Service or on Wall Street…there will be some aspect of his or her job that has a China component, and employers are hiring in part on this basis. Those young people who have a deep understanding of Chinese culture will fare well in the 21st century workplace. The best way to understand another culture, of course, is through language…Today, understanding China is a necessary skill in order to be a responsible global citizen and to have access to the best jobs in the global economy. “(more)