Cross Talk: If you live in China, should you learn Chinese?

YES Ruxiangsuisu! When in Rome, do as the Romans do. The idea that you don't need to learn Chinese while living in China is preposterous -like saying Mickey Mouse doesn't need to be rostered on to have a good day at Disneyland.

Languages bridge mankind's vast expanse and lead to common understanding. The prospect of being able to communicate with a quarter of humanity -China's 1.3 billion people - is as an attractive proposition that outweighs the requisite hard work.

Long gone are the days of spending your entire life in the one place cocooned in local customs and dialects. No, a much braver pluralist world awaits those who master two or more languages. Indeed both the world and the largesse of the global economy is their oyster.