The UK ranks joint second in the world, after the USA and alongside Australia, according to a British Council report, As Others See Us, on “soft power”.
This assesses the views of educated young foreigners throughout the world and is based on culture, history, language and people.
On exporting it is a different matter.
The International Trade Centre ranks China top world exporter, with Germany, Japan, Netherlands, France and Korea ahead of the UK which exports $550 billion worth of goods a year.
The Netherlands has a population of 17 million compared to the UK’s 65 million and yet exports 20 per cent more.
Source: Louise Cooper, The Times, Tuesday 22nd July 2014.