FCO staff worldwide have to keep up to speed with all the political or social developments  in the country to which they have been posted. Peter Wilson, our political counsellor in China is no exception. 

Peter's day job covers China's internal politics, its relationship with the rest of the world, our press and public affairs operation in China and our own bilateral relationship with the country.  

What does the world think of China? 

"....The Pew attitudes survey of opinion across the world shows that on China, opinion in Europe, including the UK, is overwhelmingly undecided.  These numbers far outweigh either positive or negative impressions (in the UK, interestingly, the positive figure is among the highest in European countries surveyed).  

China's emergence in the wider world is rapid and recent.  I think most people are still trying to make up their mind about what it means for them. More and more people (including in government in the UK) are asking 'what does China think?'  In particular on big issues where China is a key player - like international trade, climate change, the financial crisis, and hotspots like North Korea, Iran, Burma and Sudan......."

Read more of Peter Wilson's blog.

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