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Han Li

As Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his high-profile state visit to the US, Americans’ views of China remain negative but have improved in recent years, according to a new Pew Research Centre report.
Using a “feeling thermometer” ranging from zero, the coldest rating, to 100, the warmest, Pew found that Americans gave China an average rating of 37, up from 28 in 2021.
“The [Xi-Trump] meeting comes as Americans’ feelings about China have warmed in recent years, even though they remain cold overall,” Pew researchers Laura Silver and Laura Clancy wrote.
The share of US adults giving China a warm rating, from 51 to 100, has risen from 11 per cent in 2021 to 19 per cent today.
Meanwhile, the share with a neutral rating of exactly 50 has increased from 20 per cent to 27 per cent, while those with a cold rating of zero to 49 have fallen from 68 per cent to 54 per cent.
Pew conducted the survey among 5,193 US adults from September 14 to 20, just before Xi’s three-day visit to Washington, which begins today. His schedule includes meetings at the White House, a state dinner and a visit to the National Archives.


Views also differ by political affiliation and age. Democrats tend to rate China more warmly than Republicans, while younger Americans tend to express more welcoming views than older adults.
The findings come as tensions persist between Washington and Beijing over issues including AI, rare earths and trade, with China hawks in Congress continuing to press for a tougher policy towards Beijing, even as Trump has repeatedly described Xi as a “great leader” and said the two have a good relationship.
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Previously, in response to China’s rising global image, it said the country’s development and governance have gained wider recognition and called for closer ties and more exchanges between Chinese and American people.
A recent Chicago Council on Global Affairs survey found a similar shift. Americans gave China an average feeling-thermometer rating of 39 this year, up from 26 in 2024, according to the Council.
About 57 per cent said the US should pursue cooperation and engagement with China. The survey was conducted by Ipsos from July 10 to 21 among 2,156 Americans.
Pew’s broader polling also found that views of China have improved on average in many countries. China is also more trusted than the US and EU to regulate AI in several countries surveyed, particularly middle-income countries.


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China’s average rating has risen from 28 to 37 since 2021, with younger Americans and Democrats expressing warmer views


China’s average rating has risen from 28 to 37 since 2021, with younger Americans and Democrats expressing warmer views.


American views of China improve before Xi-Trump summit, Pew report finds

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}China’s average rating has risen from 28 to 37 since 2021, with younger Americans and Democrats expressing warmer views

China’s average rating has risen from 28 to 37 since 2021, with younger Americans and Democrats expressing warmer views