The COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be another obstacle in the Trump-era US-China relationship, and throws into uncertainty, once again, whether the future will make the two competitors friend or foe.

China is neither the former Soviet Union, nor intent on becoming the next America.

China and the United States managed to forge a complementary relationship since 1979, despite their disagreement about the best model of government. They need to return to the pragmatism of the past.

The pandemic reminds us that mankind is a community with a shared future and that all rise and fall together. Faced with defamation, smears and attacks, China has chosen to respond with dignity, reason and discipline.

Experts give their recommendations about how to move forward in the fight against COVID-19. Step 1: China and the United States should shelve their disputes and lead global cooperation.

The coronavirus demonstrates the need for broader cooperation between China and the U.S. Now is not the time to decouple the bilateral relationship.

At a time when countries all over the world face the onslaught of a rapidly mounting health crisis, one thing is clear: Sino-American and Asian-regional cooperation is paramount.

Tariffs and blame-games have only complicated China and the United States’ response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Instead, cooperation could not only contribute to improving global and economic health but also help resolve other issues that are eroding the bilateral relationship today.

It’s probable that Sino-U.S. relations will continue to deteriorate and slip into cutthroat competition if the opportunities for cooperation provided by the epidemic are missed.