During a landmark meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping joined European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to underscore a shared vision: "Both 'big guys' in the international community, China and the EU, should keep their bilateral relationship growing in the right direction, and work together to usher it into an even brighter next 50 years." This backdrop set the stage for a fresh wave of optimism among Europeans in a recent CGTN poll.
CGTN teamed up with the New Era International Communication Research Institute to survey 3,895 adults across 10 representative European countries. The results are striking: 86% of respondents rate the Chinese economy as "strong," while 73% are confident about its long-term outlook. When it comes to innovation, 78% praise China’s capacity for original ideas, and 81% highlight the impact of Chinese technology on global markets.
On the question of how Europeans view their relationship with China, 44.2% choose "partner"—more than double the 21.4% who see China as a "competitor." Young adults are especially upbeat: 76.1% of 25- to 34-year-olds express a positive sentiment, and nearly half of respondents aged 18–34 pick "partner." Serbia, Hungary and Portugal top the list for partnership-minded citizens, while in the UK, 29.7% call China a "partner."
When it comes to trade, the poll reveals strong support: 65.2% of Europeans believe trade with China brings clear benefits. Spain leads with 73.3%, followed by Serbia (72%) and the UK (70.7%). Notably, 67.3% see China's vast market as a golden opportunity for European businesses. Even when pitted against the United States, 37.2% say Europe gains more from trade with China, while just 19.5% favor US ties.
Amid global economic uncertainty, a majority in the UK (70.4%), Germany (62.3%) and France (61.3%) call for closer cooperation with China. This enthusiasm underscores a shift toward multilateralism and collaborative growth, spotlighting the rising influence of young global citizens and business leaders ready to navigate a shared future.
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CGTN Poll: 60% of European respondents say trade with China beneficial
cgtn.com
