Pew survey suggests China will edge past U.S. as top economic power

BEIJING, China – For the first time, people responding to a global survey are more likely to view China and not the United States as the world’s leading economic power.

The Pew Research Center said Wednesday that 41 per cent of people interviewed in 21 countries ranked China as the No. 1 economy, while 40 per cent put the United States in first place.

The trend was especially strong in Europe.

About 58 per cent of people Britain saw China as the leading economy, versus just 28 per cent for the United States.

The survey also found China’s image has grown more negative over the past year in the United States, Japan and parts of Europe.