The poll, conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and WorldPublicOpinion.org in conjunction with research centers around the world, found that a majority of citizens in eight of 14 countries surveyed (and a plurality in four) expect China to catch up with the United States economically and that they are not worried about it.

Less than a third of respondents believe China's rise will be "mostly negative," with majorities in most countries anticipating a mixed or positive outcome.

Most Asians, for example, favor a continuing U.S. security presence to counter China.