I find it interesting to discuss this, it's very superficial and stereotyped, of course, but it can be funny and help, at our own personal scale, to improve how we're being perceived, and on the other side dissolve false asumptions. These opinions and feelings are ours, and may of course not be the generality, nor the reality !
How's France being perceived ?
In general, from my point of view, I think we're being perceived as a declining power, which is true. People tend to think we don't work much with our 35 hours a week rule (But eh, we're the most productive around !), that we're always on strike for nothing (but that's mostly our national train service). We're not very good in english, and for such a touristic destination, it's a real shame, mostly for those who pretend to work in tourism. I regret that for many, but I think that's the case for many capitals, Paris is synonym of France. Even I find people from Paris very rude sometimes (don't worry if ask for your destination with a map in your hand and you're being ignored like if you were not there ... it happened to me, and I'm french). People tend to be fascinated by the french revolution, and see Napolean like only a butcher (to be honest, when I was young, he was presented like a conqueror, a ruler, a man who built many things, many rules, but we didn't hear much about the dark side and the cost of all of this). We often tend to consider ourselves for more than what we really are, we're the country of Lumières, with a big diplomatic history, but still, we're perceived as very, too proud in fact. Finally, I'll end up with the fact we're being perceived as a gastronomic country, which might be true, when our scottish friends visit us, they're always amazed by the amount of choice to buy cheese at the supermarket
How do I perceive other countries ?
I don't think anything specific about asian countries, maybe that China's boring trying to spy and copy each and everything.
I'm fascinated by India, it's so colourful, those temples, clothes ... People seem to be very kind and humble.
I consider Russia as a big nation, a proud nation, that deserves it. I was in Moscow for my 40st birthday (thank you dear wife ), so much history, even if Moscow metro was probably the rudest experience of the kind that ever happened to me (and the word Izvinitié only seemed to exist in my touristic guide). I think our actual problem is Putin, not Russia, and I'm making the difference, not puttin(g) everything in the same bag.
In Europe, we heard much (in good !) these past years about the social nordic model, but those nords are still kind of an enigma to me. I've never ever met any, wherever I went, from the streets of Istanbul to a holiday village in Marrakech, the only two I've ever met were those schoolgirls when I was 16 who spent a year with us at school. They were shy at the beginning, but no different from the rest of us at the end of the year . Nords are still a mistery to me, are they friendly, very " blonde and cold ", talkative, that doesn't seem to be the case from what I read here and there. But my wife wants to visit Stockholm, so I guess I'll have an idea very soon (but eh, as I worte, capitals are not always very representative !).
I used to live in the far north of France, where we had much polish immigration after WWII, many of my friends had polish roots, so except the great Plazcek cake, I don't know much about Poland, but always felt sympathy, don't ask me why, like being sympathetic for someone.
Used to live close to Belgium, and I consider them as our cousins with a funny accent (I had to work once in Flanders, don't know if they really didn't get a word about what I said and asked, but it was a really hard time in work context to communicate).
Germany is complicated for me. I've learned german as first foreign language at school, my best friend was born in RDA and flew with his parents, my grandpa was forced to work in a german work camp (and I was partly raised by my grandparents and heard many stories about WWII as a child), my wife's grandpa died in Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Yes, I admit it, I feel resentment, and more when I hear Schaüble giving us lessons in economy, but I think the rest of all that will disappear with my generation. Sometimes, I ask myself " How many german in their 40's like me asked their grandpa what he did during WWII ? ". All the german I've ever met were kind people, Germany is a great country, rejoigning both parts was (is) such a huge effort, but some things still haunt me.
I always felt Switzerland was holding the good role, remaining neutral in everything but money.
I don't know much about southern countries, I hear here and there that the spanish don't like us (but I do like them, Spain is a fantastic country), and when I see mafia power in southern Italy, I wonder how it can still exist novadays. Don't know much about Portugal and have no opinion.
Ireland ... Ah Ireland ... what a fantastic country. I love it. People are kind, welcoming, friendly. The food isn't amazing, but they have all the rest. A really, really great country. I've been there 2 times, and believe me, I'll be back. Raise again, celtic tiger !
UK is a weird relationship ... I always had that strange feeling " I like you but you don't like me ". I felt more comfortable when we met our scottish friends, we were amazed how hostile people could be about anything that was english (I remember Carole when I talked about " Your Queen " when she cut me violently " Not my Queen "). I love UK (except the food, but I like Fish & Chips ), I love London, and this summer, we'll visit Wales. A strong country, an amazing history, the feeling of this brother you're always arguing with, but you're still, first, brothers ...
I feel skeptical about Northern Africa, I have a hard time to know where they want to politically go (but do they know ?), was in Congo, and I liked Brazzaville, I'm hoping for them to finally raise economically.
Of, I forgot Turkey ... amazing history ... I was fascinated by what Mustafa Kemal did for the country. I love walking in Istanbul, seeing the mix of occident and orient. I'll go back there, the ambiance is amazing. Still, the moderate muslim government leaves me perplex.
On the other side of the atlantic Ocean, the USA. When I was there, I felt people were very friendly (more than those grannies I met in Ireland in the very first weeks of the second war in Irak when they knew I was french ...). A great nation, even if sometimes, the media people tend to refer to is real shit, like Fox News. I'm a christian baptist, and when I talk with my bro's and sis from the south of the US, the information they seem to take for face value (France at war, curfew ...) seems to be science fiction. I was surprised when I heard some who didn't know where France was in the world.
Brazil is a raising power, but I don't know much about the country (but eh, Brazil is on my top 3 of the countries to visit !)
I left my final ... Canada ... I was in Québec not so long ago ... I think a part of me is still there and that I never really left. Kindness, amazing landscapes, you're so lucky (but I was not there in the winter !). And the first defenders of the french language, they're not in France, they're in Québec !
I forgot some, don't know other ...