Egyptian Official Credits China's Soft Power for Global Image Shift

Khadiga Arafa, head of central administration for community outreach at the Information and Decision Support Center of the Egyptian Cabinet, reports a positive transformation in China's global image following her visit in July 2026. She credits China's second-place ranking in the Global Soft Power Index 2026 to a strategic blend of technological modernization, the preservation of Confucian values, and a foreign policy rooted in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Arafa identifies Confucius Institutes and various cultural centers as primary drivers in shifting perceptions, particularly among younger populations. She notes that direct experience can dismantle preconceived notions formed through media or academic studies.

Beyond cultural initiatives, Arafa highlights China's diplomatic efforts to reform the United Nations to better represent developing nations. She also points to the promotion of South-South dialogue as a means to address existing imbalances in the international order.