"Both 'big guys' in the international community, China and the EU should keep their bilateral relationship growing in the right direction, and work together to usher it into an even brighter next 50 years," Chinese President Xi Jinping made such remarks about China-EU relations during a meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The meeting between Chinese and EU leaders has drawn wide international attention.

A questionnaire released by CGTN got responses from 3,895 participants from 10 representative European countries. Respondents speak positively of China's modernization achievements, express optimism about the current state and future of China-EU relations, and urge European countries to join hands with China to advance multilateralism.

Respondents show favorable sentiment toward China

Across the 10 surveyed countries, seven registered a favorability rating toward China of above 50 percent, with respondents aged 25-34 expressing the highest level of goodwill of 76.1 percent. According to the poll, respondents applaud China's economic and technological progress. Eighty-six percent of respondents describe China's economy as "strong." Meanwhile, 73.1 percent of respondents are confident in China's long-term economic outlook. Another 78.1 percent of respondents recognize China's capacity for original innovation, and 81.5 percent of respondents praise the significant contribution of Chinese technology to global markets.

Asked to characterize their country's relationship with China, 44.2 percent of respondents choose "partner," more than double the 21.4 percent who select "competitor." Among the 18- to 24-year-old and 25- to 34-year-old, 48.6 percent and 50.7 percent, respectively, choose "partner." Serbia, Hungary and Portugal are the three countries with the highest share of respondents selecting "partner." In the UK, 29.7 percent of respondents regard China as a "partner." Meanwhile, 23.3 percent choose "competitor."

Over 60 percent of respondents say trade with China is beneficial

All 10 countries agree that trade with China brings benefits, with an average approval rate of 65.2 percent. Spain (73.3 percent), Serbia (72 percent), and the UK (70.7 percent) show the highest support. Respondents from the UK (72.1 percent), Germany (64 percent) and France (63 percent) strongly endorse maintaining sound economic ties with China. Additionally, 67.3 percent of respondents recognize China's vast market as a key opportunity for European businesses.

When asked whether Europe benefits more from trade with China or with the United States, respondents in every surveyed country pick China. Overall, 37.2 percent of respondents believe Europe gains more from trade with China, while only 19.5 percent of respondents say the same about trade with the United States. Against the backdrop of U.S. tariff hikes on European allies, more than 60 percent of respondents in the UK, France and Germany call for closer cooperation with China to confront global economic uncertainty, with British respondents voicing the strongest desire (70.4 percent), followed by Germany (62.3 percent) and France (61.3 percent).

The survey was conducted by CGTN in partnership with the New Era International Communication Research Institute, which was jointly established by China Media Group (CMG) and Renmin University of China (RUC). Using an online panel, researchers polled 3,895 adults aged 18 or older in the UK, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain and Sweden. The sample composition mirrors national census data for age and gender in each country.

(Cover: VCG)