Foreigners see China as a nation with strong initiatives

Foreigners are increasingly getting a better understanding of China through several media channels, a recent survey has shown.

About 70 percent of the 2,359 respondents from six countries said that they have learned about China through television, Internet and print media, describing China as a nation with strong initiatives, according to a report released on Tuesday in Beijing.

The respondents were aged between 18 and 55 and are from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Malaysia and South Africa, according to the report, which was co-conducted by the Center for International Communication Studies, with the China International Publishing Group and two other research institutes.

When it comes to China's national image, people from different countries have different opinions.

People from South Africa have a positive image of China, saying it's a friendly and peaceful country, while respondents from India, the US and Malaysia have different opinions.

About 70 percent of Indian respondents believe that China has excessive economic power, and so do 60 percent of respondents from the US.

In addition, about 51 percent of the respondents said they are willing to buy products made in China. Brands in some industries such as IT and garments have a larger group of fans with 70 percent of the respondents willing to buy those products.