Most urban Chinese like Americans and are at least quite satisfied with ties between Beijing and Washington, but nearly half think the two could lock horns over Taiwan, a survey by a state-run newspaper found Saturday.

The Global Times newspaper said it randomly surveyed the opinions of 230 residents in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan.

Some 60 percent of those surveyed said they are "somewhat satisfied" with the Sino-U.S. relationship, while 19.7 percent said they were "satisfied" and 0.7 percent responded that they were "very satisfied," the paper said.

Seventy-nine percent said they "liked" or "somewhat liked" Americans, it said, but did not give a specific breakdown.

Sixty percent of respondents think Taiwan will be the main issue affecting the bilateral relationship in the future, it said, without revealing how the other 40 percent responded.

Asked whether the two sides are likely to have a conflict over the Taiwan issue in the future, 14.9 percent of respondents said "yes," and 45.4 percent said "maybe." 

The results of the survey, taken at the end of February, come ahead of a key trip by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Washington in late April - his first since becoming president in 2003.

It was not clear whether the survey was carried out in person, on the Internet or over the telephone. It was also not clear whether people were asked to give their name or other personal information.