A growing number of US opinion leaders view China as the United States' most important partner in Asia, a survey by the Japanese Foreign Ministry showed, adding China "contributed the most to the US economy" in trade, investment and job creation.

Some 35 percent of 200 opinion leaders from a range of fields picked China as "the most important partner of the United States among Asian and nearby countries", the survey said. A total of 33 percent chose Japan, down from 42 percent last year. Nine percent of respondents picked Australia and 7 percent South Korea.

Conducted between December 2020 and January 2021, the annual "US Image of Japan" survey showed the percentage of respondents selecting China was up significantly compared to the 18 percent last year.

Among those who viewed China as the most important partner, 56 percent cited "trade and economic relations with the US" as a reason, 23 percent pointed to China's economic strength, 9 percent referred to "the nation's strength and power" and 7 percent thought it is because of the "good relationship" between the two countries.

Contributing to economy

The survey showed that globally, China topped in all areas contributing to the US economy, with 42 percent picking China as the "country contributing the most to US trade", followed by Canada at 19 percent. Some 37 percent chose China for investment, followed by Japan at 11 percent. A total of 17 percent named China for job creation, with Mexico at 16 percent.

Japan topped the list of countries in the region seen as "the most reliable partner of the United States", with 36 percent of the people naming the country, followed by Australia at 30 percent and South Korea at 17 percent.

Asked why they chose Japan, 39 percent pointed to trade and economic ties, 30 percent cited a good relationship, and 8 percent thought Japan and the US "share same values and interests".