The results of a Pew Research Center survey, released on Wednesday, have brought up the old issue of how the world views China.

The poll found that 41 percent of respondents in 21 nations view China as the world's No 1 economic power, while 40 percent think the United States is.

The rise of emerging countries and the decline of traditional industrial and economic powers have brought profound changes in the global economic landscape. China surpassed Germany as the world's biggest exporter in 2009 and overtook Japan to be the world's second-biggest economy in 2010. While a recession and the European debt crisis continue to deal heavy blows to the US and European countries, China has maintained decent growth. Along with other emerging economies, China is now being looked upon to shore up the world's economic recovery.

Under such circumstances, it is no surprise that China's rising economic clout has naturally given many the impression that China's economy is the biggest of all.

The survey also found that China's image has grown more negative over the past year in the US, Japan and parts of Europe. This is a clear indication that many Westerners still feel unimpressed about China's contribution to the world economy despite its helping hand to others.

Given that Western media, which have a penchant for disseminating negative and biased coverage on China, still play a dominant role in shaping public opinion, this too is not surprising.

But in recent years, advocates of the "China threat" or "China's collapse" theories have orchestrated one farce after another, none of which has succeeded in daunting China's courage to press ahead with its efforts to build a stronger nation and a better world.

Luckily, even in the face of continual misunderstandings, misinterpretations, bias and even enmity, most Chinese people are prepared to trust in their own faith in the country's future.

Those who have either badmouthed China or exaggerated its strength should seek the truth from facts. It will help them make a comprehensive and fair judgment on China's overall achievements and contributions.