China viewed more favorably than US

Seventy years after China and Africa established diplomatic ties, decades of cooperation in education, agriculture, infrastructure and trade appear to be paying dividends beyond economics, with a recent Pew Research Center survey released showing that China is now viewed more favorably than the United States in major African countries.

The survey, released in mid-July, found that majorities or pluralities of respondents in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa expressed more favorable views of China than of the US, reflecting changing perceptions in some of Africa's largest economies and signaling a broader shift in public opinion.

In Kenya, 76 percent of respondents expressed a favorable view of China compared with 63 percent for the US, while in Nigeria China recorded a 78 percent favorability rating against 63 percent for the US. South Africa also showed a clear preference for China, with 52 percent viewing China favorably compared with 35 percent for the US.

The Pew Research Center said this reflects a broader shift in global attitudes toward China. Across the 36 countries and regions surveyed, people in 27 expressed more favorable views of China than of the US.

The findings came as China and African countries mark 70 years of diplomatic ties this year, during which cooperation has expanded from political engagement to trade, infrastructure, agriculture, health, education and scientific research.

Analysts said these long-term partnerships provide important context for understanding why perceptions of China are improving significantly across the continent.

China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, while educational exchanges, research collaborations and agricultural partnerships have also expanded, giving many Africans direct experience working and studying with Chinese institutions.

Raphael Obonyo, a public policy expert based in Nairobi, said the survey reflects the cumulative impact of decades of China-Africa cooperation. "Over the years, African countries and China have done a lot of things together for mutual benefit," Obonyo said. "More than 70 years of engagement by both sides have brought the China-Africa relationship to one of its strongest points in history."

He said China's engagement with Africa has evolved significantly over the past two decades as trade, investment and infrastructure cooperation have deepened.

Win-win cooperation

"China has been advancing the concept of win-win cooperation and believes that as it engages with Africa, both sides are able to grow," he said.

Obonyo noted China has remained Africa's largest trading partner while continuing to support efforts to bridge the continent's infrastructure gap. He added that China's own experience in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and pursuing structural transformation resonates with many developing countries.

According to Obonyo, China's partnership with Africa has helped diversify export markets, stimulate economic growth and strengthen South-South cooperation.

"China has successfully asserted itself as a credible alternative to Africa's traditional development partners," he said.

Samson Mofolo, a Malawian PhD student who has studied in China, said his experience working with Chinese researchers convinced him that China's approach emphasizes collaboration, skills development and technology transfer.

"I have a practical experience of how the Chinese work," Mofolo said. "The Chinese are more into collaboration rather than directing what to do," Mofolo said.

He added that infrastructure development, coupled with technical support in agriculture, engineering and medicine, has strengthened China's image across the continent.

Queen Treza Khundi, a Malawian master's student who also studied in China, said firsthand experience transformed her perception of the country.

"Before I studied in China, I mostly knew China through its infrastructure projects and what I heard in the media. However, living and studying there gave me a completely different perspective," she said.

She said exposure to China's universities, research institutions and innovation ecosystem showed her how Chinese agricultural knowledge could improve farmers' productivity and livelihoods.

"I believe these real experiences are changing how many Africans see China," she said. "People who have directly benefited from education, training or development projects are more likely to have a positive perception because they have seen the impact for themselves."

sharon@chinadailyafrica.com