With respect to data utilization, the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences conducted three surveys on national conditions^1 to
systematically track Chinese perceptions of the EU in 2007, 2008 and 2010. In
addition, a survey on Chinese perceptions of the EU was also carried out under the
7th EU Framework Programme led by the China Policy Institute of the UK
University of Nottingham with the participation of the Graduate School of the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, etc. in 2010. A survey on Chinese percep-
tions of the EU was also conducted within the Pew Global Attitudes Project. This
survey report will offer a comprehensive analysis by fully making reference to the
above public opinion survey data.
10.2 Specific Content of Chinese Perceptions of the EU
and Analysis of Their Characteristics
10.2.1 Chinese Common People’s Perceptions of the EU
10.3 The Degree of Favorability on the Part of the Chinese
Common People Towards the EU
The proportion of the Chinese common people who had a“very good”and a
“relatively good”impression of the EU in 2010 markedly increased compared with
the survey conducted in 2008, in which the proportion rose from 34.2 to 47.8 %.
This shows that the degree of favorability on the part of the Chinese common
people towards the EU continuously went up (see Table10.1). However, it should
be noted that the survey carried out by the Chinese side ended in 2010, while data
concerning changes after 2010 are unavailable. The Pew Global Attitudes Project
survey is hereby cited for examination.
According to Pew’s survey, the degree of favorability on the part of the Chinese
common people towards the EU increased from 40 to 47 % in the period
2007 – 2010, but decreased as from 2010 and fell by 15, 14 and 10 % points in 2011,
2012 and 2013 respectively. The degree of favorability on the part of the Chinese
common people slowly rose in the period 2011–2013, but obviously declined
compared with 2010 (see Table10.2).
The proportion of Chinese common people who considered the EU as a“friend”
in 2010 significantly decreased by nearly 10 % points compared with 2008, while
63.7 % of the respondents believed that the EU was a partner. The Chinese com-
mon people chose the neutral word“partner”more rather than the word“friend”
which signifies more intimacy. The option“stakeholder”was added in the 2007
(^1) Unless otherwise specified, all data cited below come from national condition surveys conducted
by CASS.
190 L. Zuokui