The poll on China's overall national strength, conducted by the Global Poll Centre affiliated with the Global Times, surveyed more than 7,000 people from the US, UK, Germany, Japan, Russia, India, South Africa and Brazil.

The results showed that 19 percent consider China a "superpower" and 34 percent believe it to be a "first-class world power."

According to a news report published in English language Global Time, respondents from South Africa were the most likely to answer that China was a first-class power or greater, with a proportion of 66 percent.

"China has been investing in African countries and cooperating with them in diverse areas, so the African people are more focused on China's development," said Ding Yifan, a deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council.

Meanwhile, 27 percent of the interviewees considered China to be a "second-class country" or stated that it still remains weak. Respondents from Japan were the most likely to hold this belief.

Ding told the Global Times the result indicates that historical issues between China and Japan still bother some people.