Abstract

This talk offers a candid, data driven account of how Chinese citizens currently perceive the world and China’s role within it. Drawing on findings from the 2026 Chinese Citizens’ Global Perception Survey (CCGPS) – an annual, nationally representative survey conducted by the speaker since 2023 – the presentation explores evolving public attitudes toward China’s foreign relations with major global actors.

It examines how citizens understand global security dynamics, interpret China’s international roles, and engage with issues of trade and global governance. The talk highlights preferences around outbound tourism, study abroad, international work and emigration. By unpacking these insights, the presentation aims to equip New Zealand policymakers, researchers and business leaders with timely evidence to inform nuanced, forward-looking strategies for engaging with mainland China.

Event details

Date: Tuesday, 21 April 2025

Time: 2-3pm

Venue: Lecture theatre (OGGB4 / Room 073), Level 0, Sir Owen G Glenn Building, University of Auckland Business School, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland 1010, pay parking available beneath the building).

Bio

Reza Hasmath (Ph.D., Cambridge) is a Full Professor of Political Science at the University of Alberta. He has held faculty appointments in political science, sociology and management at the Universities of Toronto, Melbourne and Oxford. Beyond academia, he has advised global think tanks, consultancies, development agencies and civil society organizations. His award-winning research investigates how emerging Chinese state and non-state actors influence prevailing theories and practices in international affairs. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Civil Society.

We look forward to welcoming you on the day.

The NZAI Team

w: auckand.ac.nz/nzai