Firefighters most trusted in China

BEIJING - Firefighters have topped a first-of-its-kind list of the most-trusted professionals in China.

A survey, which polled 1,103 Chinese people in October 2009, gave respondents two lists, one of 40 professions and another of 79 Chinese personalities, and asked them to rate each one’s trustworthiness on a scale of one to 10.

The results of the survey conducted by the Reader’s Digest China magazine said people won approval from the public for outstanding achievement in their professions and their passion for the common good, Tom Moore, editorial director of Reader’s Digest Asia Pacific was quoted as saying by People’s Daily Tuesday.

Other professions that follow firefighting include soldier, farmer, teacher, weatherman, accountant, judge, bank clerk, doctor and chef.

Among the famous celebrities, a leading Chinese agricultural scientist was chosen as the most trustworthy, while a doctor who exposed a cover-up of the SARS epidemic and who initiated steroid therapy in China was chosen second.

Basketball player Yao Ming, who plays for the Houston Rockets team in the US’ National Basketball Association (NBA) league, came in third.

Others in the top 10 include an athlete-turned-entrepreneur, a martial arts author, a talk show host, an actor, the chairman of the Lenovo Group in China, an agriculture scientist and a news anchor.

“Commitment and devotion are prioritised by the Chinese more than other factors. People are more concerned with what they have done for society,” Wang Bin, senior editor for Reader’s Digest China was quoted as saying.

“People who achieve professional success and have a heart that wants to serve society are more likely to win public trust. They also always live the simple life and keep a low profile, rarely becoming involved with media hype,” he said.

Similar polls conducted in Australia, Canada and Singapore said firefighters topped the lists in those countries too.

“It’s common that firefighters are trusted most since they have the most vital job of saving lives. They always appear when people are in need and seek no reward,” Yu Hai, a teacher at Fudan University was quoted as saying.