Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday said China is not the enemy of the US. He made the remark in a CNN interview.

Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. (Photo: VCG)

As the former National Security Adviser, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State, Powell said the trade war is the last thing he is willing to see, and American consumers, who are buying high-quality, low cost Chinese goods are paying the price of the trade war. He stressed that the US should remain open to China and keep negotiating.

“You can work them (China), but you have to treat them with respect, and not always threaten them,” Powell said.

“I think it’s wonderful that 300,000 students are studying in the US. And now I hear that the White House is thinking of not letting them come anymore…My experience in dealing with China is that you can deal with them as long as you are straight with them, as long as you know what they think they can gain, and you know what you can get. Then let’s negotiate and try to get it,” Powell said in the interview.