![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/10\/China05.png\")
<\/figure>\n\nChinese attitudes toward Russia are on balance positive, with 48% expressing a positive and 38% a negative view. In contrast, perceptions of the U.S. and the United Nations are roughly divided, with 43% holding a favorable opinion of each. And only about a third see the European Union (33%) and Pakistan (31%) positively. Chinese perceptions of these foreign nations and institutions have mostly held steady since last year.<\/p>\n\n
The Chinese express even dimmer views toward their neighbor to the south, India. Roughly a quarter (23%) have a favorable opinion of India, while 62% offer a negative opinion.<\/p>\n\n
Similarly, Iran receives largely negative ratings, with only 21% expressing a favorable view of the Islamic Republic, a decline of eight percentage points since 2011.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>Fewer See Cooperation with U.S., India<\/h3>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/10\/China04.png\")
<\/figure>\n\nWhile a 39%-plurality of Chinese see their country\u2019s relationship with the U.S. as one of cooperation, this is down sharply from 2010, when nearly seven-in-ten (68%) held this view. Meanwhile, about a quarter (26%) say the relationship with the U.S. is one of hostility, up from 8% two years ago.<\/p>\n\n
Similarly, 39% in China view their relationship with India as one of cooperation, down significantly since 2010, when 53% saw the relationship positively.<\/p>\n\n
Views toward China\u2019s longtime regional rival, Japan, are even dimmer, with a 41%-plurality saying that relations between China and Japan are hostile, and only three-in-ten describing them as cooperative.<\/p>\n\n
China\u2019s relationship with Pakistan is much brighter, with nearly half of Chinese (49%) seeing the relationship as one of cooperation and only 10% describing it as one of hostility.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>China and India<\/h3>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/10\/China17.png\")
<\/figure>\n\nThere is further evidence that Sino-Indian relations have cooled in recent years \u2013 increasingly, the Chinese public is wary of India\u2019s economic growth. Currently, only 44% of Chinese say that their southern neighbor\u2019s expanding economy is positive for China, down from six-in-ten in 2010. Meanwhile, those saying India\u2019s growing economy is a bad thing has almost doubled over the same period.<\/p>\n\n
Indian views towards China are even more negative. Only 23% of Indians describe their country\u2019s relationship with China as one of cooperation and only 24% think China\u2019s growing economy is a good thing for India. (For more on Indian views toward China and other nations see \u201cDeepening Economic Doubts in India<\/a>,\u201d released on September 10, 2012).<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>Views of the U.S. and American Soft Power<\/h3>\n\nThe Chinese have lukewarm feelings toward the United States, President Obama, and the state of the relationship between the two powers. Only around four-in ten (43%) have a favorable view of the U.S, 38% express confidence in Obama to do the right thing regarding world affairs and just 39% see the relationship between the countries as one of cooperation. These ratings are all down sharply since 2010. (For more on Chinese and global attitudes toward the U.S., see \u201cGlobal Opinion of Obama Slips, International Policies Faulted<\/a>,\u201d released June 13, 2012).<\/em><\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/10\/China02.png\")
<\/figure>\n\nWhile overall ratings for the U.S. are mixed in China, certain aspects of America\u2019s image are positive. Among the measures of American soft power tested, people in China most admire U.S. science and technology. Nearly three-in-four (73%) say they admire U.S. technological and scientific advances. However, this is down seven percentage points since 2007, when eight-in-ten Chinese said the same.<\/p>\n\n
About half (52%) also favor American ideas about democracy and 43% like U.S.-style business, although views of the American business model have deteriorated somewhat since 2007. And while a 43%-plurality say it is a good thing that American customs and ideas are spreading to China, the Chinese are evenly divided on whether they like American music, movies, and television.<\/p>\n\n
Across these various measures of U.S. soft power, there is one constant: richer, younger, more educated, and urban Chinese all express a more positive view of these aspects of America\u2019s image. And this also holds true for overall ratings of the U.S.<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/10\/China01.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n<\/a>China\u2019s Image in the World<\/h3>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/10\/China00.png\")
<\/figure>\n\nPerceptions of China\u2019s economic power continue to grow in much of the world, especially in Europe. However, nearly half of Chinese (48%) say the U.S. is the world\u2019s leading economic power, while just 29% name their own country as the global leader. These results are similar to 2008, when the question was first asked. However, in 2009, following the successful 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the financial crisis in the West, the Chinese were evenly divided, with 41% choosing both the U.S. and China as the world\u2019s economic leader. Since then, perceptions have drifted back to pre-economic crisis levels.<\/p>\n\n
In terms of overall image, in nine of 20 countries surveyed in 2012, majorities or pluralities give China positive ratings. Opinions are largely negative in six nations, while views are essentially divided in five countries.<\/p>\n\n
<\/figure>\n\nWhile a 39%-plurality of Chinese see their country\u2019s relationship with the U.S. as one of cooperation, this is down sharply from 2010, when nearly seven-in-ten (68%) held this view. Meanwhile, about a quarter (26%) say the relationship with the U.S. is one of hostility, up from 8% two years ago.<\/p>\n\n
Similarly, 39% in China view their relationship with India as one of cooperation, down significantly since 2010, when 53% saw the relationship positively.<\/p>\n\n
Views toward China\u2019s longtime regional rival, Japan, are even dimmer, with a 41%-plurality saying that relations between China and Japan are hostile, and only three-in-ten describing them as cooperative.<\/p>\n\n
China\u2019s relationship with Pakistan is much brighter, with nearly half of Chinese (49%) seeing the relationship as one of cooperation and only 10% describing it as one of hostility.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>China and India<\/h3>\n\n<\/figure>\n\nThere is further evidence that Sino-Indian relations have cooled in recent years \u2013 increasingly, the Chinese public is wary of India\u2019s economic growth. Currently, only 44% of Chinese say that their southern neighbor\u2019s expanding economy is positive for China, down from six-in-ten in 2010. Meanwhile, those saying India\u2019s growing economy is a bad thing has almost doubled over the same period.<\/p>\n\n
Indian views towards China are even more negative. Only 23% of Indians describe their country\u2019s relationship with China as one of cooperation and only 24% think China\u2019s growing economy is a good thing for India. (For more on Indian views toward China and other nations see \u201cDeepening Economic Doubts in India<\/a>,\u201d released on September 10, 2012).<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>Views of the U.S. and American Soft Power<\/h3>\n\nThe Chinese have lukewarm feelings toward the United States, President Obama, and the state of the relationship between the two powers. Only around four-in ten (43%) have a favorable view of the U.S, 38% express confidence in Obama to do the right thing regarding world affairs and just 39% see the relationship between the countries as one of cooperation. These ratings are all down sharply since 2010. (For more on Chinese and global attitudes toward the U.S., see \u201cGlobal Opinion of Obama Slips, International Policies Faulted<\/a>,\u201d released June 13, 2012).<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/figure>\n\nWhile overall ratings for the U.S. are mixed in China, certain aspects of America\u2019s image are positive. Among the measures of American soft power tested, people in China most admire U.S. science and technology. Nearly three-in-four (73%) say they admire U.S. technological and scientific advances. However, this is down seven percentage points since 2007, when eight-in-ten Chinese said the same.<\/p>\n\n
About half (52%) also favor American ideas about democracy and 43% like U.S.-style business, although views of the American business model have deteriorated somewhat since 2007. And while a 43%-plurality say it is a good thing that American customs and ideas are spreading to China, the Chinese are evenly divided on whether they like American music, movies, and television.<\/p>\n\n
Across these various measures of U.S. soft power, there is one constant: richer, younger, more educated, and urban Chinese all express a more positive view of these aspects of America\u2019s image. And this also holds true for overall ratings of the U.S.<\/p>\n\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/a>China\u2019s Image in the World<\/h3>\n\n<\/figure>\n\nPerceptions of China\u2019s economic power continue to grow in much of the world, especially in Europe. However, nearly half of Chinese (48%) say the U.S. is the world\u2019s leading economic power, while just 29% name their own country as the global leader. These results are similar to 2008, when the question was first asked. However, in 2009, following the successful 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the financial crisis in the West, the Chinese were evenly divided, with 41% choosing both the U.S. and China as the world\u2019s economic leader. Since then, perceptions have drifted back to pre-economic crisis levels.<\/p>\n\n
In terms of overall image, in nine of 20 countries surveyed in 2012, majorities or pluralities give China positive ratings. Opinions are largely negative in six nations, while views are essentially divided in five countries.<\/p>\n\n
<\/figure>\n\nThere is further evidence that Sino-Indian relations have cooled in recent years \u2013 increasingly, the Chinese public is wary of India\u2019s economic growth. Currently, only 44% of Chinese say that their southern neighbor\u2019s expanding economy is positive for China, down from six-in-ten in 2010. Meanwhile, those saying India\u2019s growing economy is a bad thing has almost doubled over the same period.<\/p>\n\n
Indian views towards China are even more negative. Only 23% of Indians describe their country\u2019s relationship with China as one of cooperation and only 24% think China\u2019s growing economy is a good thing for India. (For more on Indian views toward China and other nations see \u201cDeepening Economic Doubts in India<\/a>,\u201d released on September 10, 2012).<\/em><\/p>\n\n The Chinese have lukewarm feelings toward the United States, President Obama, and the state of the relationship between the two powers. Only around four-in ten (43%) have a favorable view of the U.S, 38% express confidence in Obama to do the right thing regarding world affairs and just 39% see the relationship between the countries as one of cooperation. These ratings are all down sharply since 2010. (For more on Chinese and global attitudes toward the U.S., see \u201cGlobal Opinion of Obama Slips, International Policies Faulted<\/a>,\u201d released June 13, 2012).<\/em><\/p>\n\n While overall ratings for the U.S. are mixed in China, certain aspects of America\u2019s image are positive. Among the measures of American soft power tested, people in China most admire U.S. science and technology. Nearly three-in-four (73%) say they admire U.S. technological and scientific advances. However, this is down seven percentage points since 2007, when eight-in-ten Chinese said the same.<\/p>\n\n About half (52%) also favor American ideas about democracy and 43% like U.S.-style business, although views of the American business model have deteriorated somewhat since 2007. And while a 43%-plurality say it is a good thing that American customs and ideas are spreading to China, the Chinese are evenly divided on whether they like American music, movies, and television.<\/p>\n\n Across these various measures of U.S. soft power, there is one constant: richer, younger, more educated, and urban Chinese all express a more positive view of these aspects of America\u2019s image. And this also holds true for overall ratings of the U.S.<\/p>\n\n Perceptions of China\u2019s economic power continue to grow in much of the world, especially in Europe. However, nearly half of Chinese (48%) say the U.S. is the world\u2019s leading economic power, while just 29% name their own country as the global leader. These results are similar to 2008, when the question was first asked. However, in 2009, following the successful 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the financial crisis in the West, the Chinese were evenly divided, with 41% choosing both the U.S. and China as the world\u2019s economic leader. Since then, perceptions have drifted back to pre-economic crisis levels.<\/p>\n\n In terms of overall image, in nine of 20 countries surveyed in 2012, majorities or pluralities give China positive ratings. Opinions are largely negative in six nations, while views are essentially divided in five countries.<\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>Views of the U.S. and American Soft Power<\/h3>\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/a>China\u2019s Image in the World<\/h3>\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n