WASHINGTON - As Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States Thursday to meet with President Barack Obama, about 55 percent of?US?citizens?view China as either an ally or a nation friendly to the US, according to a Gallup poll released on Thursday.

According to the poll, about 11 percent of?US citizens?say China is an ally, while 44 percent say it is a friendly nation. About 40 percent of those interviewed say China is either unfriendly or an enemy.

Gallup said younger?US citizens?and Democrats are much more likely to see China as a friend to the United States than older?US citizens?and Republicans. It said?US citizens?have generally been positive towards China when Gallup has asked this question over the past 13 years.