Simon Anholt’s latest Nation Brands Index is out. The US is number one, up from seventh place last year. Simon says, “In all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States in 2009.”

I like this, but I’m distracted by the China story the report tells:

China, with a stronger economic performance than expected despite the global downturn, has moved up to 22nd from 28th last year. The host of the 2008 Beijing Olympics has improved its rankings for Exports, Culture, People and Tourism dimensions. However, inequality, human rights, clean government, and environment still being challenges, China places at the bottom on Governance with an even lower ranking in 2009 (49th in 2009 vs. 48th in 2008).

As Simon previously wrote about China:

China’s international image continues to slide quite rapidly downhill: exactly the opposite of what China’s leadership was hoping for in the buildup to the all-important Beijing Olympics. Almost all of the ground its image had gained during the highly disciplined and stage-managed Olympics, plus some international sympathy as a result of a bad earthquake, was virtually wiped out as a result of a bad poisoning episode from baby milk, and the botched attempt to cover it up. It remains to be seen whether China’s still relatively strong economic growth, as other major economies falter, will help to achieve what such ‘nation branding’ initiatives have so far failed to do, and persuade the world that China is a country to be trusted, and admired.

China, trusted and admired? I’m not convinced.