World Has Positive View Of China

China’s diplomats have spent the past 15 years pursuing a very effective “charm offensive” to build a positive image abroad. People-to-people contacts abound, with Chinese students filling universities around the globe.

Outbound Chinese tourists now outnumber those from Japan. China’s slogan for dealing with its neighbors is: mulin, anlin, fulin, which translates as: be friendly, make them feel secure, and help make them rich. It works.

A 2004 BBC poll of 23,000 people in 22 countries showed that 48% considered China a positive global influence—10 points higher than the U.S. Moreover, the survey showed that 58% of the respondents ages 18-to-29 had a positive view of China.