Chinese President Xi Jinping has had a busy few weeks receiving Western allies seeking warmer ties with the world's second-largest economy. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney struck a trade deal slashing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian canola oil.

Since the start of the year, as President Donald Trump has alienated U.S. allies with his attack on Venezuela, demands for control of Greenland and new tariff threats, their leaders have been reviving ties with another country: China.

China has gotten very good at making cutting-edge pharmaceuticals — good enough to seriously threaten America's long-standing dominance in drug-making. Why it matters: This is all happening in plain sight.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Chinese President Xi Jinping, while President Donald Trump attempts to dissuade allies from Beijing.

The U.S. has a lead over China in model capability, but key AI industry leaders and experts say China is only a few months behind. The U.S.’ lead is sustained by the quality and quantity of its AI chips, which are restricted for sale in China. Recently, the Trump administration loosened those controls.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the first U.K. leader to visit China since 2018, is hoping for an economic boost to Britain but has been criticized by China hawks at home.

In response to Trump's tariffs, China's use of other Asian manufacturing markets and forced labor is adding trillions into Chinese GDP.

The massive surge in gold and silver in recent months has been grabbing headlines, but behind the precious metal hype the ​less glamorous industrial metals have also been putting in strong performances.