China’s rising global favorability reflects the appeal of cooperation and openness

What the report says

A Xinhua report published by The Independent Uganda says a new Pew Research Center survey found China is viewed more positively than the United States in most of 36 countries surveyed. The article says favorable opinions of China have reached record highs in many places, especially across a group of 20 economies with comparable data, where the median favorable view of China was reported at 46 percent versus 36 percent for the United States.

The piece frames the shift as part of a wider trend in international polling. It cites earlier findings from Gallup, ASEAN think tanks and Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Index as evidence that China’s global image has been improving. According to the report, respondents in many middle-income countries increasingly see China as a reliable partner and a contributor to peace and stability.

The article argues that China’s growing appeal is linked to its emphasis on openness, cooperation and shared development. It points to projects and initiatives such as Belt and Road infrastructure, medical aid, vocational training programs, and China’s role in global technology cooperation, including discussion around the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.

Beyond economics and diplomacy, the report says Chinese culture is also helping shape perceptions, citing the international reach of films, games and heritage celebrations. The broader significance, as presented in the article, is that China’s image abroad is increasingly tied to its role in development, technology sharing and cultural exchange.