BEIJING, China — As part of GlobalPost's project to interview 100 people in 20 locations around the world about the 2012 US election, we asked Chinese people:
Who do you want to win the 2012 US election?
Will the election affect your country?
How has your view of the US changed since President Obama took office?
What should the next US president do?
The election's impact: "My country has many problems of its own right now and there’s a lot of pressure on the nation as a whole. I think if the US elects a different president, it could be a turning point for China as well. I hope the next president focuses on his own country’s development and won’t be too involved in our private affairs."
My view: "The US economy hasn’t improved, but this hasn’t affected the world’s economy too much. I think the world’s economy was to blame."
Top priority: "Help the US economy and improve the unemployment issue."
The election's impact: "Well, if the US economy improves, then China’s economy will also improve."
My view: "I think he seems like an honest person, but I don’t know too much about him."
Top priority: "Improve the economy."
The election's impact: "I guess you could say that the US and China are the world’s two largest and most powerful countries right now. Both countries’ economies and situations will have a great impact on other countries, too. I guess the next election will affect China’s trade and foreign policy the most."
My view: "Obama has experienced a major economic crisis after he took office but I think he has made a lot of targeted strategic moves to help save the economic situation. His work to the current economic situation shows signs of recovery. So, I think that even though in Obama’s term the economy took a turn for the worse, it has now been brought under control and has a chance for a rebound."
Top priority: "Improve the economy and keep the peace."
The election's impact: "It won’t affect China too much because China and America will always have good relations. They are the two largest and most powerful countries in the world. America will always need to have good relations with China if they want their economy to improve."
My view: "It has not improved or worsened. I think the past four years have been a turning point for the US and that Obama has done the best that he can in bad circumstances. Hopefully the next four years can be better."
Top priority: "I think the most important step for the US is to turn the spotlight outwards to inwards. Meaning, that the next US president should focus more on domestic issues rather than international ones. Only after improving the their own nation can they make any difference internationally."
The election's impact: "Not fundamentally, since the US and China have to maintain a healthy diplomatic relationship at least on surface."
My view: "Improved, he has made changes that American citizens would benefit from in the long term."
Top priority: "Revive its economy and ban guns."
GlobalPost series: See what the world thinks about election 2012