The interview is a welcome counterpoint to Germany’s often one-sided debate about China. That is precisely why it is worth reading: as a clear-eyed account by an entrepreneur who has known China for decades.
Many German judgments about China are rooted in ignorance, double standards and a deep-seated sense of Western superiority. Anyone who wants to understand China should first listen, observe and be willing to question their own perspective.
His statement, “We need China more than China needs us,” captures today’s balance of power with striking clarity. I fully agree with this assessment. China’s development, capabilities and strengths as a society deserve recognition.
In a remarkably candid interview, entrepreneur Boris Thomas discusses his many years of experience in China. He describes a country that moves quickly, adapts readily, embraces technology and acts with economic self-confidence. He is particularly critical of the arrogance with which China is often judged in Germany.
Source and original interview
Kirsten Kronberg: “Wie man guten Schlaf nach China exportiert” (“How to Export Good Sleep to China”). Interview with Boris Thomas, published in Wirtschaft Elbe Weser, issue 5/6.26, IHK Elbe Weser, pages 22–23. Read the original interview in the IHK magazine.