Pew Survey Finds Rising Positive Views of China

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Positive perceptions of China are increasing in many countries, according to a report by China Daily citing a study published by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center.

According to the study, the survey was conducted between 8 February and 13 May among 42,151 adults in 36 countries and regions. Pew Research Center said that in most of the countries covered, the share of respondents expressing a favourable view of China exceeded the share expressing a favourable view of the United States.

The Washington Post reported that more favourable views of China than of the United States were recorded in the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Germany. According to the newspaper, attitudes toward the United States in those countries had been higher or broadly comparable with views of China a year earlier.

According to the Associated Press, Laura Silver, associate director of global attitudes research at Pew Research Center, said this was the first time in nearly two decades of surveys that the overall level of favourable views of China had surpassed that of the United States. She added that ratings of the United States had reached or approached historic lows in many countries.

The Associated Press also cited the view that the trend is partly linked to worsening relations between the United States and some of its allies. The BBC, in turn, quoted Carnegie China researcher Chong Ja Ian as saying that many people are concerned about the unpredictability of U.S. policy and its economic consequences.

The report also referred to findings from other surveys. According to the BBC, Gallup previously found that global approval of China had surpassed that of the United States, with the gap reaching its widest level in the past 20 years.

Bloomberg reported that the Pew Research Center survey also examined foreign policy issues. According to the findings cited, respondents in 17 middle-income countries were more likely to regard China as a reliable partner and gave it higher ratings than the United States for its contribution to peace and stability.

China Daily also cited Sun Xihui, a researcher at the Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He said the rise in favourable views of China reflects the country's consistent foreign policy, its principles of openness and mutually beneficial cooperation, and the expansion of economic ties with middle-income countries.

The researcher also said that China's sustained cooperation with Latin American countries has contributed to the region's development and strengthened positive perceptions of China.

The source of the report is China Daily.