The Russians view China the most friendly country, signaled the poll of All-Russia’s Center of Public Opinion.
Photo: Grigory Tambulov
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China Is No Longer Potential Enemy for the Russians
The Russians view China the most friendly country, while the United States is the key potential enemy for them, signaled the poll of All-Russia’s Center of Public Opinion.
China is absolutely favored by 21 percent of respondents, which makes it the leader of preference list of the Russians. It is followed by Germany and Belarus, each of which with the vote of 12 percent. Of interest is that exactly Belarus was thought most friendly in 2006, while China was deemed the second potential enemy after the United States (16 percent past year vs. 3 percent this year).
Though still leading amid the unfriendly nations, the bad score of the United States shed from 45 percent to 26 percent. Today’s second enemy for the Russians is Georgia (19 percent), while the third leading position is shared by Britain, the Baltic nations and Ukraine (7 percent each).
Another feature of this year’s poll is the surge in number of undetermined respondents - 49 percent (vs. 37 percent in 2006) proved unable to call Russia’s friends, and 51 percent (vs. 26 percent) found it too difficult to name enemies.
As to China, the favorable rating could be attributed to the active economic and political cooperation, especially in Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the analysts speculate, pointing out that Belarus fell on gas clashes with Russia.
www.kommersant.com
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