Growing number of people expect China to become world's largest economy

According to the results of a global survey released on Friday, one-third of respondents expect China to become the world's largest economy, and believe that China's image is improving internationally.

High-speed trains waiting to go into service at a rail yard in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province on December 5, 2014. [Photo: VCG]

The 2016-2017 China National Image Global Survey has been running since 2011. China scored 6.22 out of 10 for its overall image, continuing the slight upward trend of recent years.

Younger people, those aged 18 to 35, had the highest-rated impression of China.

Pudong business district lights up the night in downtown Shanghai, on December 19, 2017. [File photo: VCG]

The three countries where China saw the largest rise in scores were Italy, Canada, and the UK. Developing countries also had a better impression of China generally.

Some aspects of China's development have attracted special attention overseas. One-third of participants expect China to become the world's largest economy. Traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese food, and high-speed railways are well known overseas. Diligence and hard work are the characteristics people most commonly associate with the Chinese people.

The food you cook yourself is sometimes the tastiest! Competitors pose with their creations at a hotpot contest in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, on March 25, 2017. [File photo: VCG]

China scored 6.5 and 6.2 points for its performance in global and domestic affairs, respectively, showing greater recognition of its abilities in handling international affairs. China's global governance in many fields was rated highly, including science and technology (65%), economy (64%), and culture (57%).

In terms of influence, China ranked second only to the United States, and was followed by Russia, Germany, and the UK.

China's first domestically developed large passenger jet C919 takes to the sky at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport on its second test flight on September 28, 2017. [Photo: IC]

The survey was conducted by the Center for International Communication Studies at China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, Kantar Millward Brown, and Lightspeed. The survey included citizens from 22 countries, with 500 respondents interviewed in each country.