Reference News Network, November 30 report: According to the German newspaper "Die Welt" website on November 27, this spring, in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Shanghai, people stood in long queues all night just to buy the limited edition new Lameibu dolls. This humanoid doll, launched by China's Pop Mart company, is sold in limited quantities and usually sells out globally within a few hours.

This trend has long reached Europe, with Pop Mart opening stores in London, Paris and Berlin. The key to its sales is the blind box strategy - customers do not know which doll they have bought until they open the packaging. On some online platforms, rare editions can be sold for more than $2000 each.

This phenomenon of rushing to buy indicates that Chinese consumer trends have spread beyond Asia, demonstrating cultural charm.

For the Chinese leadership, this "soft power effect" is no minor matter, but part of the measures to achieve its grand goal of matching and even surpassing the United States. US President Trump unintentionally helped Beijing. His capricious foreign policy has made many countries increasingly feel that China acts more steadily and predictably.

This impression is now reflected in data. A survey conducted by a global public opinion research company among 32 countries shows that people's perceptions of China have significantly improved. This survey provides the clearest evidence that Beijing's global appeal has greatly increased.

According to the survey, the number of people who consider China as a more attractive leading world power increased by 11 percentage points compared to the previous year, reaching 33%. The proportion of people who favor the United States fell to 46%, no longer exceeding half.

The increase in recognition of China is almost everywhere, especially in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Africa and Spain. Indonesia's recognition of China reached as high as 62%.

This result reflects not only a temporary emotion, but also indicates a profound change in global perception of China. China has adjusted its soft power strategy, and now it is reaping the results.

China's new strategy is more subtle. It presents a China that is technologically advanced, aesthetically avant-garde, and highly convenient in life. Flying cars, smoothly running high-speed trains, automated logistics centers powered by robots, and clean city centers - these images are rapidly spreading on social media. Young people especially see a future vision different from the political turmoil in the United States.

Influencers from around the world conduct inspection trips, visiting impressive attractions. The videos they shoot show a modernized country that operates efficiently.

At the same time, to attract more tourists, China has relaxed visa policies for many countries. The Chinese government hopes that these tourists' experiences combined with their influence on the internet will persistently shape China's international image.

Additionally, there is a material basis for the increased goodwill towards China in Africa and the Middle East. With the help of China's "Belt and Road" initiative, local ports, power stations, highways and digital networks have been built. China is seen as an actor that makes practical investments and achieves results. This explains why in these regions, over 50% of respondents in the survey said China is the world power they prefer.

This shift is particularly evident among the younger generation. According to a survey report released by Global Public Opinion Research Company, the popularity of the two superpowers is now almost equal among young people aged 18 to 24: 41% of people in this age group prefer the United States, while 39% prefer China.

Evidently, many young people under 30 primarily value which superpower can provide credible and effective solutions for the future. The survey results show that the future vision represented by China resonates more with young people than the Western emphasis on values.

(Translated by Wang Qing)

On July 1, 2024, the Lameibu characters appeared at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thai National Tourism Authority held a welcome ceremony for the Lameibu, a Chinese trendy toy brand under Pop Mart, at the airport and awarded it the title of "Magical Thailand Experience Ambassador." (Xinhua)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7578366043727331840/

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