Survey: Sino-US ties 'very important'
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The number of Chinese people who view Beijing's ties with Washington as "very important" has doubled in the past year, while most people believe relations will remain stable or improve despite recent turbulence, a survey reveals ahead of President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to the United States.
Several Chinese experts, however, noted issues of concern remain between Washington and Beijing and said it is hard to predict how relations will develop in 2011. A stable partnership needs greater input from both sides, they said.
The survey, jointly conducted by China Daily and Horizon Research Consultancy Group under the theme "The US in Chinese Eyes", also revealed a downturn in public goodwill toward the US due to political and economic disputes.
Nearly seven in 10 (69.9%) believe that in commercial affairs the world's two largest economies are both competitors and partners.
Most people consider that China made a greater contribution than the US in handling the financial crisis and trying to combat climate change, the survey showed.
Asked to value Beijing's ties with Washington, more than half (54.3%) of respondents said they regard Sino-US ties as "very important", more than double the 26 percent in 2009.
An overwhelming nine in 10 (90.9%) viewed the relationship as "important".
However, more than half of the respondents believed that ties had deteriorated in 2010, and nearly four in 10 (the report did not give the specific number) said current relations are "in a bad situation".
Eighty percent said the US was to blame.
As to future ties, six in 10 (no specific figure available) said the relationship will generally remain stable, while about one quarter were more positive, saying it will get better.
People under 30 are more optimistic than those in other age groups.
"The survey results show Chinese people have a higher recognition on the importance of the ties, but a lower emotional recognition toward the US," said Zhang Chuanjie, deputy director at the Center for US-China Relations affiliated to Tsinghua University.
"The public's feelings about the US have come to a crossroads, and President Hu Jintao's visit, at a crucial time, will provide an impetus to push ties down the right road" Zhang said.
On the generally positive attitude of those under 30, Zhang said it is a consequence of greater access to new media, including the Internet. Interaction on blogs and online discussions have enabled them to have access to various sources and to see the huge potential for cooperation between the two countries, he said.
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