China’s development has been met with increasing global optimism as the nation’s performance in international affairs wins more recognition, a survey showed.

According to the 2016-2017 China National Image Global Survey, China scored 6.5 on a 10-point system for its performance in global affairs and 6.22 for its overall image, a slight move upward. Specifically, over 60% of the overseas respondents praised China’s role in BRICS and expect a more active role in the future, while global recognition of the Belt and Road Initiative has been on the rise. More than 40% of the respondents in Indonesia, India, and countries along the route know about the proposal.

The survey also revealed that more people believe that China would become the world’s largest economy. The figure was 17% in 2013, while the latest survey recorded 33%.

China’s technological development has won many hearts. A total of 59% made a positive assessment and the proportion was high as 71% in developing countries. Among all the achievements, high-speed rail is the best-known, with an appreciation rate at 36%.

The survey included a total of 11,000 respondents in 22 countries covering Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and America. Jointly conducted by the Academy for Contemporary China-World Studies and Kantar Millward Brown and Lightspeed, it was officially released on January 5 as the fifth yearly survey on China’s national image.

“As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, we are tasked with shaping China’s national image and presenting it to the rest of the world,” Wang Gangyi, deputy director of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, said at the press conference when the survey results were released.

Experts at the conference also credited the survey for trying to break away from the Western monopoly on China’s national image appraisal.

Shi Anbin, a professor at Tsinghua University, pointed out that many appraisals and surveys on China were conducted through tainted glasses and it is necessary for China to not only pick up its own discourse rights, but also establish its own concepts instead of being merely responsive to Western concepts that criticize China.

Wang suggested that future surveys build on the brand of independent opinion polls by focusing on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, tapping the data on Chinese proposals and approaches, and enhancing the capability to create research topics.