People have a picnic at a park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)
A study found that adult Malaysians view China more favorably, citing factors such as personal experiences, Chinese investments in Malaysia and future cooperation.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Malaysians have an increasingly positive perception of China in 2022 compared to 2016, according to a Kuala Lumpur-based opinion research firm.
A study by Merdeka Center found that adult Malaysians view China more favorably, citing personal experiences, Chinese investments in Malaysia and future cooperation as among the factors that have contributed to an increased positive perception, the research firm said in a statement on Thursday.
Of those surveyed, 70 percent of the respondents perceived relations between Malaysia and China as good, compared with 67 percent in the 2016 survey.
Malaysians participate in a traditional Chinese rice-pudding wrapping competition in Kuala Lumpur on May 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Wenzong)
When asked which countries helped Malaysia the most during the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years, China stood out at 50 percent, followed by the United States at 12 percent, Saudi Arabia at 6 percent, Britain at 3 percent, and Japan at 2 percent.
China provided various forms of aid during the pandemic with vaccines being the most high profile item. Malaysia also uses several Chinese developed vaccines, including Sinovac, which is being filled and finished in Malaysia.
This survey was carried out in cooperation with the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya, with the data collection being carried out from March 17-26 this year. ■
