China loves American brands

China's middle class consumers are becoming a new driver of the global economy. And for the punchdrunk economies of Europe and North America, they are a welcome source of business.

But what brands do the Chinese prefer?

The BBC asked global brand research company Millward Brown to find the 20 most powerful foreign brands in China. And then they asked those companies to tell the secrets of their success.

Perhaps surprisingly, thirteen of the top 20 brands come from the US, not from continental European purveyers of luxury products. Two are from Germany, two from France, one from Italy and one from the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate Unilever.

South Korea's Samsung is the only Asian brand on the list. There was not one Japanese brand!

The top 20 brands are: Kentucky Fried Chicken (US), Pampers (US), Colgate (US), Olay (US), Crest (US), Apple (US), McDonald's (US), Omo (UK/NL), Coca-Cola (US), Carrefour (France), Pantene (US), Gillette (US), Johnson's Baby (US), Adidas (Germany), L'Oreal (France), Samsung Electronics (Korea), Nike (US), Head & Shoulders (US), Volkswagen (Germany), and Armani (Italy).

At a time of intense US/China rivalry, these results are fascinating.

They confirm the Chinese consumer's love affair with all things American, and their deep distrust of Chinese brands.

"Our research shows that in the last three years, trust in Chinese brands has eroded quite dramatically," says Millward Brown's Peter Walshe.