A generational shift in how the world sees China today

Editor's note: Ni Xiaowei, a special commentator for CGTN, is an assistant research fellow at the Department for Developing Countries Studies, China Institute of International Studies. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

A new global survey by Pew Research Center reveals more than changing perceptions of China. It offers a glimpse into how a new generation is rethinking what makes a country influential in today's world.

According to the center's recent report, "People in Many Countries Now View China More Positively Than the US," respondents in 27 of the 36 countries and regions surveyed express more favorable views of China than of the United States. The most revealing finding, however, extends beyond this comparison. Across many of the surveyed publics, younger adults expressed more positive views of China than older generations.

Pew does not explain why this generational gap exists. Nevertheless, the findings point to a broader shift in how younger people understand international influence. While military strength and economic size remain important, younger generations increasingly pay attention to whether countries can create opportunities, promote innovation and contribute solutions to shared challenges. In a more interconnected and increasingly multipolar world, influence is measured not only by power, but also by a country's capacity to deliver tangible benefits.

A generation with different reference points

Pew identifies a clear age divide in attitudes toward China. Adults aged 18 to 34 are more likely than those aged 50 and above to express favorable views of China. The pattern is particularly evident in Latin America. In Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, younger respondents consistently hold more favorable views of China than older generations. In Brazil, for example, roughly six out of 10 adults under 35 expressed favorable views of China, compared with about four out of 10 among those aged 50 and older.

The survey itself does not identify the reasons behind these differences. One possible explanation is that younger generations have grown up in a world shaped by globalization, digital connectivity and expanding cross-border exchanges. Their understanding of China is increasingly informed by education, travel, business, social media and cultural interaction, alongside traditional news sources. Rather than relying solely on inherited geopolitical narratives, many are forming their own judgments through direct or indirect experience.

Development is the new measure of influence

The generational differences identified by Pew reflect more than changing attitudes toward China. They point to a broader shift in priorities, particularly across the Global South. For many young people, the central questions are no longer primarily geopolitical. Instead, they are increasingly practical. Can international cooperation create jobs? Improve infrastructure? Expand access to education, technology and digital markets? Support long-term development? As these concerns become more central to everyday life, they are also reshaping how countries and international partnerships are judged.

This changing perspective provides important context for understanding China's growing appeal among many younger people. In many developing economies, cooperation with China has expanded beyond trade and investment to include infrastructure, industrial development, digital connectivity, renewable energy and manufacturing.

These initiatives have supported local growth while creating employment, skills training and entrepreneurship opportunities. Scholarships, vocational education and youth exchange programs have enabled young people to acquire professional skills and broaden their international horizons. These experiences offer one possible explanation why younger generations in many countries expressed more favorable views of China.

Pew also found that younger respondents in several regions are more likely than older generations to regard China as a reliable partner, a finding consistent with a broader shift in how younger people evaluate international engagement. Rather than viewing cooperation mainly through the lens of geopolitical competition, they increasingly pay attention to its tangible outcomes. Countries that expand opportunities, strengthen human capital and contribute to long-term development are more likely to win the trust of young people.

A changing world is redefining influence

The significance of Pew's findings extends well beyond changing perceptions of China. They point to a broader transformation in how international influence is understood. The defining challenges of the 21st century, from climate change and Artificial Intelligence to energy security and uneven development, cannot be addressed through confrontation. They require cooperation, innovation and countries willing to provide practical solutions and global public goods. In an international environment marked by growing uncertainty, development itself has become an increasingly important source of influence.

China's expanding engagement in green development, digital connectivity, infrastructure cooperation and people-to-people exchanges has sought to create more opportunities for shared development, particularly across the Global South. Like every major country, China continues to face diverse expectations from the international community. Sustaining international confidence will therefore depend on continued openness, responsible engagement and meaningful contributions to global development.

As the international landscape continues to evolve, this generational shift may prove to be one of the most consequential changes shaping the future of global influence.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)