CGTN Poll | Rising favorability: Global respondents praise various aspects of China's modernization

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, CGTN, in cooperation with Renmin University of China and the New Era Institute of International Communication, has released the "China Favorability" global poll for the second consecutive year. The survey results indicate that respondents' favorability toward China continues to rise, with commendations for its economy, technology, culture and international influence. Notably, respondents from Global South countries and young individuals under 34 have expressed strong recognition of China's modernization concepts and achievements.

Rising favorability of China's image

In the survey about China's national image, respondents' favorability and recognition have steadily increased. Notably, 92 percent of respondents recognize China as an important country, reflecting a slight rise of 1.4 percentage points from last year. Additionally, 89 percent view China as a successful country, marking an increase of 4.8 percentage points, while 77.8 percent consider China a respectable country, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous year.

Alongside the rising favorability, the willingness of global respondents to visit China has also increased. The proportion of respondents who consider China "an attractive country" has grown by 14.8 percentage points over two years, reaching 72.7 percent. Additionally, 79.5 percent of respondents expressed a willingness to travel, visit or study in China. This view is particularly prevalent among younger respondents, with 89.7 percent of those aged 18 to 24 and 88.4 percent of those aged 25 to 34 sharing this sentiment.

Global South turns to China

As the world's second-largest economy and the largest developing country, China's modernization serves as a valuable reference for countries worldwide, particularly those in the Global South. The survey indicates that global respondents highly appreciate the concepts and achievements of China's modernization in the new era, fully recognizing China's contributions and significant impact in actively participating in global governance processes.

In terms of economic performance, 92.3 percent of respondents praised China's strong economic strength, consistent with last year's data. Among these, recognition from respondents in Middle Eastern countries reached as high as 98.4 percent, while acknowledgment from respondents in African and South American countries stood at 97.7 percent and 95.5 percent, respectively.

Additionally, 81.3 percent of respondents expressed confidence in the long-term positive outlook of China's economy, marking an increase of 7.1 percentage points from last year. The top five groups demonstrating this confidence are respondents from African countries (94.7 percent), Middle Eastern countries (92.8 percent), South American countries (90.8 percent), Southeast Asian countries (88 percent), and South Asian and Central Asian countries (85.9 percent).

Furthermore, 89.2 percent of respondents recognized China's outstanding contribution to the global economy, marking an increase of 9.7 percentage points from last year. Among them, the recognition rates were 96.3 percent for respondents from African countries, 95.2 percent for those from Middle Eastern countries, and 93.9 percent for those from South American countries.

In terms of technological performance, China's tech strength has also been recognized by global respondents. Notably, 92.3 percent of respondents found China's technological capabilities impressive, with the highest recognition rates among African respondents (98.7 percent), South American respondents (97.3 percent), Middle Eastern respondents (96.9 percent), South Asian and Central Asian respondents (96.8 percent), and Southeast Asian respondents (93.9 percent).

Additionally, 87 percent of respondents positively evaluated China's significant contribution to global technological development, marking an increase of 2.1 percentage points from last year.

Global youth's trust in China

In the survey, the majority of global respondents expressed a favorable view of China's national image, with 70 percent selecting "very good." Notably, the highest proportions of favorable views toward China were among young respondents aged 18 to 24 and 25 to 34, reaching 83.65 percent and 81.4 percent, respectively, significantly higher than those in other age groups.

In recent years, more young people from around the world have come to China to gain firsthand experience of the country's real economic and social situation. The survey found that young respondents under the age of 34 recognized China's political system and governance capacity, with 72.6 percent of those aged 18 to 24 and 73.1 percent of those aged 25 to 34 viewing China's political system as very successful.

Additionally, young respondents praised the social governance capabilities of the Chinese government. Specifically, 89.5 percent of those aged 18 to 24 believe the government has improved education, while 87.2 percent of those aged 25 to 34 think it has enhanced infrastructure construction. Furthermore, 82.1 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 feel that the government has increased public income levels.

In terms of international influence, 92.8 percent of young respondents aged 18 to 24 and 91.1 percent of those aged 25 to 34 praised China's international impact, both exceeding the overall recognition rate of 87.2 percent.

Meanwhile, 82.5 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 support their countries actively participating in international cooperation projects initiated by China. Additionally, 72.4 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 and 71.6 percent of those aged 25 to 34 believe that China's path of peaceful development is significant for maintaining global peace and stability, as well as promoting a more equitable and just international order.

The survey targeted 16,400 respondents from 41 countries worldwide, including North America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Participants included individuals from developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, as well as respondents from developing countries like Brazil, Kenya, Mexico and Indonesia.

(Cover via CFP)

(Graphics by CGTN)