Emerging and developed countries divided on China's global rise: Report

Emerging and developed countries showed divided opinions on China's global rise, according to the Select Findings from Brunswick's China Going Global Report 2020, published by Brunswick Group in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday.

The international advisory firm said in the report that public confidence in China and Chinese business continued to gain momentum in emerging markets, with 84 percent of respondents expressing positive opinions of China. Only 16 percent of respondents in these markets expressed negative opinions.

Brunswick found perceptions in developed countries were more mixed, with 58 percent of respondents stating positive opinions of China, and 42 percent holding negative views.

As per the report, positive opinions of China remained stable in the United States at 48 percent, the United Kingdom at 60, Germany and the Czech Republic at 68.

The Select Findings are based on a survey of 9,700 respondents in 23 countries, ranging from developed markets like the US, UK and Germany, to emerging countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

The findings showed that the divide of public perceptions between developed and emerging countries is impacted by differing outlooks on China's rising economic and political leadership.

Emerging countries are seeing economic opportunities in China's rise, while developed countries are offering a more cautious assessment.

The survey findings also indicate that China's economic and technological leadership is expected to grow, which may create new areas for competition and tension in the future.

"China has a vision for the future and has found support along the Belt and Road," said Mei Yan, Brunswick Group's chair of China. "Now, the developed world must take into account the reality of China as a leading economic and technological power."