Friend or foe? That's not the right question

Editor's note: Zhang Weiwei, professor of China studies with Shanghai-based Fudan University, gave a speech on China-US relations at Harvard University on Oct 15. The following is a brief summary of his remarks:

Over the past 40 years, trade between China and the United States has increased 233 times, and everyday 14,000 people shuttle between the two countries.

Yet, the number of Chinese tourists heading to the US during the National Day holiday in the first week of October this year dropped more than 40 percent year-on-year, which is partially attributable to the trade frictions initiated by the Donald Trump administration.