Tourism and Technology Seen as Keys to Improving China’s Image in the US

China could improve its public image in the United States by promoting areas such as tourism and technology while presenting itself as a responsible major power, according to a new survey examining American attitudes toward the country.

The survey suggests that people-to-people exchanges and greater exposure to China’s technological development could provide opportunities to improve perceptions at a time when relations between Beijing and Washington remain complicated.

Tourism was identified as one of the areas with potential to shape American views of China. Greater opportunities for Americans to visit China, experience its culture and interact with local communities could help provide a more direct understanding of the country beyond political and diplomatic disputes.

Technology could offer another avenue for engagement. China has become a major player in areas including artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, giving the country an opportunity to demonstrate its scientific and technological capabilities to international audiences.

The findings come as American views of China remain largely negative, although recent international polling has shown some improvement in China’s global standing. A Pew Research Center survey published in July found that China was viewed more positively than the United States in many countries for the first time in nearly two decades of its global polling.

The survey also found that many people believe China plays a positive role on the world stage, suggesting that perceptions of the country are not uniformly negative and may vary depending on the issue or region.

For Beijing, the findings point to the importance of soft power alongside traditional diplomacy. Tourism, cultural exchanges and technological achievements can give foreigners opportunities to form impressions of China through direct experiences rather than relying primarily on political narratives.

However, improving China’s image in the US is likely to remain difficult while disagreements persist over trade, technology, security and other geopolitical issues. Washington and Beijing have continued efforts to stabilise their relationship, while significant areas of mistrust remain.

The survey nevertheless suggests that tourism and technology could provide relatively practical channels for building greater familiarity between the two societies. For China, presenting itself as an open destination and a responsible technological power could become an important part of efforts to strengthen its image among Americans.