China will surpass U.S. as biggest economy: Poll

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk the grounds at The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, Calif., June 8, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

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WASHINGTON ? People all over the world increasingly believe China will overtake the U.S. as the largest economy, according to a new poll.

Pew Research interviewed nearly 38,000 people in 39 countries from March 2 to May 1. And a majority or plurality in 23 of those nations think China will overtake the U.S. as the world's economic superpower.

But the communist country has a large gap to close: Last year, China's GDP was just over US$8 trillion, while America's was almost $16 trillion.

And while 66% of Chinese people think their country will surpass the U.S., only 47% of Americans think it will happen, while an equal 47% of Americans don't.

But even if people around the world believe China's economy will overtake America's as the world's biggest ? experts believe it, too, and say it could happen between 2016 and the 2040s depending on the forecast ? people don't think very highly of China.

According to the poll, just 50% of those surveyed have a favourable view of China compared to a 63% favourability rating for the U.S. Likewise, while 70% think the U.S. respects individual rights, only 36% think China does.

"China's increasing power has not led to more positive ratings for the People's Republic," the Pew report says.

Among Canadians, 67% think China will surpass the U.S. and 64% have a favourable view of America.

The poll's margin of error changes depending on the country. For Canada, it's accurate to within 3.7 percentage points.

bryn.weese@sunmedia.ca

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Source: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/07/18/china-will-surpass-us-as-biggest-economy-poll

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