Challenges, next steps

Despite the momentum, challenges remain. Some cultural exports still face difficulty resonating abroad due to localized storytelling or dense cultural references.

"Many Chinese pop culture exports focus on fusing ancient stories with modern values, which can sometimes limit global reach," said Dudarenok. She pointed to Ne Zha 2, which became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, yet earned 99 percent of its revenue on the Chinese mainland.

"While the world is fascinated by companies like DeepSeek and Unitree, it will take time for people to fully embrace these innovations," she said. "As interactions with China increase, initial apprehension will give way to excitement and appreciation."

Harper observed that global perceptions may also shift as political dynamics evolve. "The credibility, and hence influence, of the US has taken a hit lately. This will inevitably lead to a shift from US to Chinese products, or even more broadly, to Chinese culture," he said.

He pointed to the automotive sector as an example, highlighting how BYD had surpassed Tesla in electric vehicle sales across Europe. "This mirrors how consumers see the US and China, most notably in how (Tesla CEO Elon) Musk's antics are a factor in why people are opting for BYD," Harper said. "Equally, this is due to how 'made in China' is associated with quality as opposed to its previous image of cheap poor quality goods, which echoes Japan's rise. In this sense, China has a better image now than it did before."

What's clear is that China's new image has not been built overnight. It's the product of years of effort across tech, culture, and policy. "This is a self-sustaining cultural flywheel, tech enables storytelling, stories drive exports, exports fund R&D," said Dudarenok.

As China continues to integrate innovation with cultural expression, it is not only reshaping global perceptions, but also becoming a trendsetter in the process.

wangmingjie@mail.chinadailyuk.com