Interview: Western perceptions of China far from reality

A tour group from Britain is 绥芬河政府新闻网pictured at Yuyuan Garden Mall in east China's Shanghai, Oct. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

Looking at the broader global picture, Logan said China's role in world affairs is an objective reality that cannot be ignored. "China is a reality, and it is going to have increasing influence on world affairs," he said.

LONDON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Mark Logan, a former British Member of Parliament (MP) who has worked in China for many years, said that Western perceptions of China are far from the reality he has experienced through his personal and professional interactions with the country over the past two decades.

Speaking on the sidelines of the China Development Forum 2026 held at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Logan told Xinhua on Saturday that China remains widely misunderstood in Western societies, and that many of its positive cultural and social characteristics have yet to be fully recognized.

Born in Northern Ireland, Logan worked in China for many years before entering politics. He was elected to the British House of Commons to represent Bolton North East in 2019 and served until 2024.

"For someone like myself, I've always been mesmerized by Chinese culture," he said.

Recalling his early exposure to China, Logan said that Chinese culture was already visible in everyday life where he grew up. "The population of my hometown is 50,000, but 20 years ago it already had 24 Chinese restaurants," he said.

Logan said one of the most striking aspects of Chinese society is its openness and friendliness towards ordinary people. "Chinese people are so friendly and welcoming, they want you to come into their culture, understand it and exchange," he said.

He argued that there is a clear asymmetry in how China and Britain view one another. "The average person in China knows many things about Britain, and often has a positive impression of the country that I come from," he said, "but on the other side, Britain doesn't have that same interpretation of China."

Logan noted the increasing visibility of British leaders in China through social media and cultural affinity, adding that the recent visit by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has attracted considerable attention on Chinese social media platforms.

Looking at the broader global picture, Logan said China's role in world affairs is an objective reality that cannot be ignored. "China is a reality, and it is going to have increasing influence on world affairs," he said.

He criticized what he described as a long-standing Western assumption that other countries would converge toward Western models. "I have always felt it has been arrogant for the West to believe that only China and other countries would become more like us," he said. "There are things that China does better or more efficiently."

Describing the Chinese society as "very positive, forward-looking and solution-focused," the former MP said that Western societies need to acknowledge China's achievements more openly. "The West has to recognize that China has done very well and that there are things which China has achieved."