Major International Survey: World View of China
China's Global Times has published the results of the first international survey of the country's reputation, conducted in 46 countries around the world
Chinese daily newspaper Global Times publishes the results of a major international survey that the Beijing-based newspaper conducted over several months in 46 countries around the world. The purpose of the mega opinion poll was to understand what is currently “China’s reputation and image internationally.” The survey, the first of its kind, had 51,332 participants, and the sample included 14 economically developed countries and 32 developing countries. Residents from all continents and all member states of G20, BRICS, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participated in the survey. For obvious reasons, Chinese citizens were not included in the survey.
Overall, the survey found that the majority of people surveyed around the world “have a favorable view of China, especially regarding the economic growth prospects and development potential of the world’s second-largest economy.” More specifically, the Global Times writes: “Nearly 80% of foreign respondents show confidence in China’s development.” More than 90% of respondents believe that “China’s economy will continue to grow in the next decade,” and nearly 60% believe that China “China is a major driving force of world economic growth.”
The survey also showed that participants estatimate “China’s overall national strength as high”: “Economic strength” of the country received the highest positive rating at 77 percent, followed by “sci-tech strength” at 75 percent and financial strength (72 percent).
The survey showed that young people have a higher appreciation of China’s scientific and technological potential. More than 70 percent of survey participants from Africa, BRICS, the Middle East, and developing countries believe that China’s overall strength is “high”: this percentage surpasses the 60 percent in Western, ASEAN, and European countries.
In a comprehensive calculation, China ranked second behind the USA, which gathered 47 percent. In ranking the international status of major countries, 20%, 27%, and 17% of foreign respondents “ranked” China first, second, and third, respectively. Notably, the high percentage of survey participants placed Russia in the prestigious third place, while the UK and Japan came in fourth and fifth respectively.
