The “self-construction” and “construction” of Chinese national image in the Spanish-Speaking World: a corpus-based study of Xi Jinping’s signed articles on Spanish, Argentinean and Panamanian media

Abstract

Within the framework of corpus linguistics, this paper takes as its object of study the signed articles published by President Xi Jinping in Spain, Argentina and Panama on the eve of his state visits, as well as the relevant news items in the main newspapers of these three countries. Using the Wordlist, KeyWords and Concord tools of the software WordSmith3.0, it analyses the similarities and differences of China’s national image in the signed articles and the relevant news items in order to explore the attitudes, expectations and policies of Spain, Argentina and Panama towards China. The conclusions are as follows: 1. The national image constructed by China itself is almost identical to that is portrayed by the Spanish, Argentine and Panamanian media, namely China playing the role of a cooperative, open and powerful partner. 2. The perception of the Spanish-speaking countries on the image of China is moving in an increasingly positive direction, and the signed articles published by Chinese leaders are conducive to enhancing the national image and strengthening its soft power. 3. Spain, Argentina and Panama restrict their exchanges with China to the economic sphere, lacking cooperation at the political area.