China is the most optimistic country in the world, with 91.4 per cent of its citizens believing their country will become better a place in the next decade, a report revealed on Monday.
The report, “Priorities of Progress: Understanding Citizens’ Voices,’’ released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), is based on a global survey of 50 countries to examine how citizens feel about their country’s progress.
The report indicated a generally more positive sentiment in the emerging markets of Asia and Africa than the OECD countries.
Besides China, over 70 per cent of respondents in Indonesia and Vietnam believe their country is moving towards a better society.
Meanwhile the number in the U.S. is only 38 per cent, and Germany and Italy 12 per cent.
Another highlight of the report is that developing countries are increasingly embracing science and technology for a better future.
India and China have a strong science and technology ecosystem in areas like Artificial Intelligence and digital, and leapfrog innovation is helping people across Africa overcome infrastructure constraints.
The EIU report also showed more positive views on technology in many developing countries.
The percentage of respondents who strongly agreed that technology has changed society for the better is largest in South Africa (38 percent), Indonesia (34 percent) and Thailand and Vietnam (both 32 percent).
It however compared it with only 5.7 per cent in Canada, 6.9 per cent in Germany and 11 per cent in South Korea, a technology-intensive economy.
According to the report findings, healthcare remains the top priority, followed by social protections, access to education, public order, transport infrastructure and the environment. (Xinhua/NAN)
