What will China's next generation think of the US? [GALLO/GETTY]

As part of Al Jazeera's global coverage of the US election race, Dinah Gardner took to the streets of the Chinese capital, Beijing, to ask locals what they thought about the US presidential election.

While some profess a lack of interest in the White House race, all hope that the new president - whomever he may be - will maintain a strong relationship with China.

I watched their presidential debate and the vice-presidential debate and I think the Democrats are going to win this time.

I heard what McCain had to say and I don't see how he can bring much change from Bush.

From what I understand about Americans, sometimes they are not very rational when it comes to voting.

I don't think there is a huge difference between their foreign policies but most Chinese would like to see the Democrats win, because they are a little bit more liberal when it comes to good relationships with China and most Chinese thought very highly of [former US president Bill] Clinton.

I see a very clear link between the economy and trade between China and the US.

China's prosperity is closely tied to the US, just as how the economic crisis on Wall Street has affected the market in China.

Acknowledging the fact that the US is the world's superpower, I don't see how the decline of the US will help China.

I see it the other way round.

If America goes down, China will go down with it.

I'm not sure who will win. Changes can happen so fast in politics. Whoever wins will do the best for the country and whoever wins it will be the same for us.

So, yes, I think Obama has a good chance.

He's younger and has a more flexible way of thinking than McCain. These are his advantages.

It's very interesting whether the American public will vote in a black man as president.

Bush built up such a good relationship between China and the US but then, right at the end, he messed it all up by selling weapons to Taiwan.

Whether the next administration is Democrat or Republican, I still think US-China relations will be very tricky.

Both parties view China as an enemy, both of them distrust us.

The only thing is that Obama looks like he has a better chance at fixing the economy and this would benefit China.

I just feel that Obama will win.

There is a lot of discrimination in the US.

Black people used to have to sit in the back of the bus while white people sat at the front. I think people want to change all that.

I would like to see him win because I would like to see white and black people treated the same in the US.

I think he will make a good president and I think he will make US foreign policy fairer.

I think the Democrats will improve the relationship between China and the US because the Democrats are fairer.

I think Obama will win. He has got spirit and more people like him.

He is charming, much nicer than that John McCain.

Also, I'm Christian and I like Obama's Christian values. 

To be honest, I don't know much about their policies on [China-US relations].

So I don't know which one would be better for this.

I don't even know who's running! We don't really pay any attention to the US election. We only care about what affects China.

He caused all these economic problems.

No, I don't like him, so I don't want his party to win.

I don't think it matters whichever one gets in.

To us Chinese, they're all the same!

I really don't know who the Americans will vote for, but because Obama is different, because he is part black, he might have a better chance.

I would love to see Obama win, because I want to see some difference. 

I don't pay that much attention to politics so I don't really know what he stands for.

But whoever wins he will do a better job than Bush for relations between the US and China.