File photo shows students learn the traditional Chinese art of paper folding at the Chinese Cultural Center in Sydney, Australia. Photo/chinaculture.org]

The reputation of Chinese cultural centers and Confucius Institutes around the world has improved in the past few years, according to a survey.

China's National Image Global Survey 2014, based on 4,500 respondents in nine countries, revealed the overall image has increasingly improved and been recognized by the global community.

The nine - the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Africa, India, Russia, Brazil and China - represent different geographic regions and stages of economic development.

The survey found that 24 percent of respondents knew of Chinese cultural centers and Confucius Institutes, among whom 57 percent accepted their establishment in their countries.

Results showed a relatively high level of recognition and reputation, said Yu Yunquan, deputy director of the Center for International Communication Studies with the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.

He said weaknesses in current overseas cultural communication and exchanges needed to be improved.