European leaders demanded a more balanced relationship with China at a summit with President Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital on Thursday. Focusing their opening remarks on trade, they called for concrete progress to address Europe's yawning trade deficit with China.

Favorable views of China and confidence in President Xi Jinping have increased in many regions while approval of the U.S. and President Donald Trump has declined or remained low, a new global Pew Research Center survey has found.

China has accused the US of "stirring up trouble" in the South China Sea in a fresh bid to stake claim to miles of international waters. Fu Cong, China's ambassador to the UN, this week launched into a series of attacks on America at the UN Security Council.

Xi has called Putin a “best friend,” and the two often stand side by side at global events. On Red Square, during Russia’s Victory Day parade, they marched their troops together. Xi even sat at Putin’s right, symbolically a place of trust and power.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has signaled a shift in economic strategy, criticizing the unbridled investment frenzy in artificial intelligence (AI) and the electric vehicle (EV) industry. According to tech news outlet Engadget on Friday,

Chinese President Xi Jinping has bluntly questioned a nationwide rush of investment into the AI and EV industries. As deflation anxiety grows and Trump’s trade war with China ramps up, the world’s second largest economy is turning to fast-growth tech industries to remain competitive.

China's top leadership has recently pledged to curb "involutionary" competition amid intense price wars in the country.

Xi Jinping skips BRICS Summit for the first time amid speculation of political turbulence in China and divisions between member nations over trade and strategic interests