Most of the people in Central and Eastern Europe have a positive view towards the Chinese economy, according to the Chinese Enterprises Global Image Survey Report (2016, Central and Eastern Europe Edition) released at a related forum in Beijing on October 14.
After releasing the surveys in an Asia-Pacific edition and a "Belt and Road" edition in 2014 and 2015 respectively, the magazine China Report and the Center for International Communication Studies, both affiliated with China International Publishing Group, conducted the latest survey with Milllward Brown and Lightspeed GMI, two well-known global survey corporations.
Focusing on people's impressions of the Chinese economy, enterprises and products in the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary and Poland, the survey collected 500 online questionnaires from each country, covering people aged from 18 to 65 and with an even gender balance.
Most respondents believed the Chinese economy is still under development and will keep growing in the next ten years. Among them, 37 percent thought the economy was developing smoothly, while 33 percent saw it developing rapidly. According to age group, the respondents aged from 18 to 50 were more optimistic about the economy.
As for China's "Belt and Road" Initiative, 32 percent had heard about it. It receives more recognition in Poland and the respondents aged from 18 to 35 are the most familiar with it, the report said.
It also showed that 37 percent of respondents had a good impression of Chinese enterprises, compared with that of Japanese, EU member countries' and U.S. enterprises, where the relevant percentages were 74 percent, 64 percent and 61 percent respectively. From the perspective of age group, those aged from 51 to 65 had a relatively better impression about Chinese enterprises.
As for the Chinese products, the respondents considered low price was their most competitive advantage, but many were very concerned about the quality issue. The report shows that 65 percent and 53 percent of the respondents said they chose not to buy Chinese products because of "poor quality" and "too many fakes."
Concerning the roles of overseas Chinese enterprises in propelling the local economy, 55 percent of the respondents chose "offering cheap commodities;" 42 percent chose "providing more job opportunities" and 37 percent chose "bringing about more investment."
They see the retail and manufacturing industries as the most prospective cooperation sectors between Chinese and local enterprises in the future.
The survey shows that internet and television are the main channels for people in Central and Eastern Europe to get to know more about Chinese enterprises, with 67 percent of the respondents choosing internet and television and 43 percent choosing Chinese products or services.
