China to the world mastering art of PR

In the first half of the 20th century, it was Soong May-ling and Lin Yutang who shaped how the world saw China, just as it was Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping who became the faces of China in the latter half.

Colin Mackerras says that these days, however, it is the average Chinese at home and abroad who will influence Western perspectives on China. The China affairs expert also feels that "the First Lady Peng Liyuan is making good impressions recently".

Although he argues in his latest book that perceptions of China are often more about Western political viewpoints, Mackerras says there are still things that can be done to improve China's public relations image abroad.