China's influence is becoming increasingly comprehensive, profound and long-lasting as changes unseen in a century accelerate around the world. Global interest in China has never been so broad, deep and focused as it is today. How does the world view the changes in China? What are the global views on China's development? How does the rest of the world view China's image? To find answers to these questions, the Global Times launched a survey covering 51,332 respondents in 46 countries. It is the largest survey conducted by China on a global scale, with the largest sample size, and the most comprehensive and in-depth questionnaire design since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

About the poll

The Global Times Institute conducted a public opinion poll, with a sample of 14 developed countries and 32 developing countries, covering representative countries from every continent and all G20, BRICS and ASEAN countries, except China. The survey topics were selected, questionnaires were distributed and data was collected in accordance with industry standards.

The survey methods were adapted to the specific circumstances of each country, using three methods: face-to-face interviews (CAPI/PAPI), computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI), and large-scale online surveys using member sample databases (online). Survey participants were ordinary citizens aged 18 to 70. During the data collection process, certain quota restrictions were applied to the sample composition based on the demographic characteristics of each country. The survey was conducted from August to November 2024, collecting a total of 51,332 valid samples.

Chinese power assessment

The survey reveals that China's comprehensive national strength and various other strengths are generally rated as "strong/high" by international respondents. China's economic strength has the highest positive rating at 77%, followed by science and technology strength (75%) and financial strength (72%). The survey also shows that young respondents have a higher evaluation of China's science and technology strength. More than 70% of respondents from African countries, BRICS countries, the Middle East and developing countries believe that China's comprehensive national strength is high, more than 60% in ASEAN countries and European countries, and more than half in developed countries.

In the ranking of the international status of major countries, 20%, 27% and 17% of foreign participants ranked China first, second and third, respectively. Based on a comprehensive calculation, China ranks second, the United States ranks first with 47%, and Russia, Japan and the United Kingdom rank similarly, third. A relatively large proportion of participants put Russia third and the United Kingdom and Japan fourth.

Opinions on the Prospects of Chinese Economic Development

The survey also found that the majority of international participants have a positive outlook on China's economic growth prospects and development potential. Nearly 80% of foreign participants expressed confidence in China's development. More than 90% of foreign participants believe that China's economy will continue to grow in the next decade, and nearly 60% believe that China is a major driving force for global economic growth. More than three-quarters of participants from developing countries, the Middle East and BRICS countries expect China's economy to grow faster, with the figure reaching 85% in African countries. Meanwhile, the figure exceeds 70% in Europe and ASEAN, and exceeds 60% in developed countries.

About 60% of international respondents agree that China is continuously deepening reform and opening up "in the right direction". About two-thirds of respondents believe that the future of the Chinese economy is bright and has great potential, while about 20% are neutral. 81% of African respondents believe that the prospects of the Chinese economy are bright, the highest among international respondents, while the Middle East and BRICS countries, developing countries, 60% of European countries and ASEAN countries, and 50% of developed countries think so.

Very positive impression of China

The survey included a question about respondents’ main impressions of China over the past year. The results showed that frequently used keywords included “economy,” “science and technology,” “developing/developed,” “good,” “strong country,” “advanced/innovation,” “culture/civilization,” “goods/products,” “large population,” and “Chinese food/cuisine.” The term “economy” was mentioned most frequently in developed countries, Europe, the Middle East, and ASEAN countries, while the term “technology” was mentioned most frequently in developing countries, Africa, and BRICS countries.

The survey also shows that more than 90% of foreign respondents have an interest in China and 40% have a high level of interest in China, including 14% who are “very interested” and 26% who are “very interested”. Respondents in developing countries (95%) showed greater interest in China than those in developed countries (86%). In terms of subjective feelings toward China, 63% of foreign respondents expressed a positive opinion of China, while 20% were neutral. In terms of different country groups, African countries have the highest positive view of China, reaching 84%, the figure exceeds 70% in Latin America, BRICS, and developing countries, nearly 70% in ASEAN countries, more than 60% in the Middle East, nearly half of European countries have a positive opinion of China, and about 30% are neutral.

As for the overall evaluation of China and the Chinese people, nearly 60% of the foreign participants had a "good" impression and more than 30% were neutral. 74% and 72% of the participants had a good impression of China's science and technology and economic development, respectively. More than 60% of the participants had a good impression of Chinese culture. 55% of the foreign participants had a generally positive impression of the Chinese people, while 36% were neutral. More than 70% of the foreign participants had a good impression of the Chinese people's spirit of hard work and innovation.

The survey also lists more than 10 things that represent China and asks international participants whether they like them or not. Among them, the popularity exceeds the Great Wall (67%), high-speed rail (65%), pandas (63%), and smartphones (61%). More than 57% of foreign participants choose visa-free transportation, electric cars (55%), and online shopping (55%). Nearly half of the participants prefer Chinese cuisine (48%) and TikTok (48%). Data comparisons also show that participants in developed countries show a relatively higher preference for traditional Chinese symbols such as the Great Wall, pandas, and Chinese cuisine, while participants in the Middle East, BRICS countries, and African countries express a higher preference for high-speed rail, high-speed trains, smartphones, online shopping, electric cars, and other new things in China.

China's aspirations for greater participation in international affairs and greater contributions

69% of foreign respondents expect China to participate more in international affairs and play a bigger role. 88% of respondents support China playing a more active role in relevant international organizations, mechanisms or platforms. More than 80% hope China can make more international contributions to economic and trade cooperation, education, science and technology, and culture. Nearly three-quarters of respondents expect China to play a bigger role in building the international order and maintaining peace and stability.

The recognition rate of international participants for “building a community with a shared future for mankind” is 66%, and for the three major global initiatives (the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative) and the Belt and Road Initiative, the recognition rate is about 70%. As for China’s proposals for promoting “an equal and orderly multipolar world” and “a comprehensive and globally beneficial economic globalization,” more than half of the survey participants agreed, about 30% were neutral, and those who disagreed were in the single digits.

The rise of the Global South is of great significance to the development and change of the world. According to the survey, the majority of foreign respondents agree that China is a member of the Global South, while only 4% have the opposite opinion. A much higher proportion of respondents hope that China will push countries in the Global South to jointly safeguard world peace, protect the diversity of civilizations, enhance economic cooperation, and enhance the power of international discourse.

China's relationship with other developing countries

Survey data show that a much higher proportion of respondents agree that China is a partner to other developing countries, helping them promote industrialization and modernization, explore development opportunities, and improve economic infrastructure, rather than “practicing neocolonialism,” “creating debt traps,” “plundering resources,” and “transferring excess energy,” as some Western media sources have portrayed it. In Africa, more than 60 percent of respondents acknowledged China’s positive contributions, while those with negative views accounted for only about 10 percent.

On hot regional affairs

Survey data shows that more than 60% of foreign respondents expect China to become more involved in Middle East affairs and play a bigger role in the future. The proportion is three-quarters in Middle Eastern countries, with more than half of respondents expressing high expectations. More than half of respondents have positive views on China's call for a ceasefire between Palestine and Israel and the UN General Assembly resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza, more than 20% are neutral, and very few disagree. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, 46% of respondents expect China to participate in coordination, and 10% hope China will "stay out of relevant affairs."

Hope for stable and improved relations between China and the United States

The state of China-US relations concerns both countries and affects the world as a whole. The survey found that international public opinion currently generally favors stable and improved China-US relations. Statistics show that more than 70% of respondents hope that China-US tensions will “ease” or “maintain the status quo” in the future, and only one in ten hope that relations will “move toward conflict.” In the United States, 38% of respondents hope that China-US tensions will “ease,” twice as many as those who chose “conflict” (18%). The survey also showed that Americans’ positive attitude toward China has improved over the past year.

The most appropriate solution to the South China Sea issue

More than 60% of the participants from ASEAN countries expressed their support for relevant countries to participate in negotiations and consultations on the South China Sea issue, put aside differences and seek common development, and 65% of the participants from the Philippines chose this.

Friendship with China is the hope of the common people.

China has established diplomatic relations with 183 countries and has become the main trading partner of more than 150 countries and regions. The survey found that more than 80 percent of foreign respondents believe their countries' relationship with China is friendly, normal and strategically cooperative, and 10 percent of respondents see China as a "competitor."

Statistics show that most respondents from African countries regard China as a "strategic cooperative partner" or a "friendly country". People in developing countries, ASEAN, the Middle East and BRICS countries have a relatively high proportion of viewing China as a "strategic cooperative partner", "friendly country" or "country with normal relations".

The proportion of respondents who consider China a “friendly country” or a “country with normal relations” in European countries is relatively high, while for developed countries as a whole, the proportion who see China as a “country with normal relations” is relatively high.

Regarding the future change in China's relationship with their countries, 62% of international respondents expressed hope for improvement, and 26% hoped for the relationship to remain unchanged. In African countries, more than 80% of respondents hope for a better relationship with China, while in developing countries, the Middle East and BRICS countries, the proportion is close to 70%, and in ASEAN countries, the proportion is more than 60%. 95% of international respondents welcome Chinese visitors to their countries, with tourism being the most preferred purpose (64%), followed by investment (50%), business (46%), and study or academic visits (45%). With China implementing its visa-free transit policy, nearly 70% of respondents expressed their willingness to visit China in the future.

The survey data also shows that young people have greater interest in, better impressions of, greater passion for, and higher approval of China. For example, in terms of interest in China and expectation of greater Chinese involvement in international affairs, respondents under the age of 40 with positive views outnumber those in the age group over 40 by more than 5 percentage points. Among the options of having a positive impression of China, being willing to visit China, and understanding China’s key initiatives/concepts, the proportion of the former group is 10 percentage points higher than that of the latter group.