China's image is steadily improving on the international stage, with the nation ranking second among all countries in terms of influence in world affairs, according to a survey.

On a 10-point scale, the average rating for China's national image last year was 6.2, up from the previous year's 5.9.

The United States had the most influence on global affairs, the survey found.

"It is encouraging to know that China's national image has improved, despite recent international incidents," said Zhou Qing'an, assistant dean of Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication.

"This means China's political and diplomatic image is strong enough to withstand difficulties."

Results of the 2015 China National Image Global Survey were released in Beijing on Monday. About 9,500 people from 19 G20 member countries took part in the survey.

It was conducted by the Center for International Communication Studies at the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, British multinational market research company Millward Brown and Lightspeed GMI, a company with offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific that provides data to help clients make business decisions.

The survey found 43 percent of overseas respondents considered China to be a large eastern country full of charm and with a rich history. Fifty-four percent of the respondents in developing countries agreed with this perception.

Yu Yunquan, deputy director of the Center for International Communication Studies, said, "The world has great interest and demand for Chinese cultural goods, among which cuisine, martial arts and Traditional Chinese Medicine best represent Chinese culture."

The survey found that people also have a more positive impression of Chinese as a whole, especially in developing countries, with most viewing them as hardworking, hospitable and diligent.

"As Chinese travelers become better educated, they are more aware of how they should behave overseas," Yu said. "When some behave poorly, the media reports on them, which has encouraged others to behave even better."

The survey found that overseas respondents were positive about China's future development, with nearly half believing its global influence will continue to grow, especially in economics.

Wang Wen, acting director of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, said, "With more than 120 million Chinese visiting other countries last year and with trillions of dollars worth of assets overseas, China is standing firm on the world stage both culturally and financially."

The increasing number of foreigners planning to visit China is a sign of the country's growing influence, the survey found.