China eclipsing U.S. as super power but not in popularity, finds global poll

More number of people across globe believes China will surpass the United States as the world's pre-eminent superpower, a new poll has found.

The survey conducted by the Pew Center revealed that about 47 percent of those surveyed in 39 countries said China will surpass or already has surpassed the U.S.

In only six countries majority of respondents said that China would never surpass the U.S., the Washington Times reports.

In the United States, opinion was equally divided, with 47 percent saying China would eclipse or already has eclipsed the U.S., and 47 percent said that would never happen.

The poll found that the growing conviction across globe that China will become the greatest superpower has not improved people's opinion of the Asian giant.

The poll found that Washington continued to enjoy a more positive image in most countries than Beijing, and especially among China's neighbors.

Among the nations surveyed, a median of 63 percent expressed a favorable opinion of the United States, as compared with 50 percent for China.