The Chinese and US presidents have met for the second time this year. The summit delivered real things for real people – and generated its share of headlines.

But a bigger question sits behind them: is there a risk we can't see the wood for the trees? CGTN's Tian Wei draws on an old Chinese saying, "A leaf before the eyes hides Mount Tai." Tariffs, export controls, tech disputes, security concerns and political differences are real, but they're not the whole relationship. They are only leaves.

The mountain they risk obscuring? Millions of people across the Pacific are already in each other's lives – as colleagues, customers, classmates and friends. 

Can China and the US look past the "leaves" to their shared interests – and build something together? Tian Wei shares her perspective.