President Donald Trump will welcome Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Washington this week for a closely watched summit that could have significant consequences for U.S.-China relations. Trade, critical minerals, national security, and human rights are among the issues expected to surround the meetings as Xi makes an official state visit to the White House.

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From The Epoch Times:

The two leaders will meet for the first time since Trump visited Beijing in May. The next week’s summit comes at a critical time, as both China’s rare earth export control suspension and the broader U.S.–China tariff truce are set to expire on Nov. 10.

A senior administration official told reporters during the call that shipments of rare earths from China to the United States and other countries have fallen short of expectations.

The official noted that China’s performance in that respect has not met U.S. demands, and therefore the rare earths issue will be a topic of discussion.

The visit begins Sept. 23, when Trump will greet Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews. The following day, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will welcome the couple to the White House for an official arrival ceremony, military review, and bilateral meeting. A state dinner will follow that evening, and the visit will conclude Sept. 25 after tea at the White House and a visit to the National Archives.

Economic tensions are likely to feature prominently in the talks. According to the source, the administration is considering reducing some tariffs on Chinese goods in non-strategic sectors. Meanwhile, questions remain about Chinese investment in the United States. A senior administration official, responding to reports that American auto industry groups had urged Trump to prevent Chinese automakers from entering the U.S. market, stressed that the President is “not interested in compromising our national security.”

Human rights will also be on the agenda. Lawmakers have urged Trump to press Xi over Americans and other political prisoners detained in China, including Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai. Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Chris Smith previously asked the President to raise the cases of Americans, lawful permanent residents, and their relatives whom they say have been unjustly detained. A senior administration official indicated Trump is expected to address such concerns during his meeting with Xi.

The summit will also bring some of America’s most prominent business leaders to Washington. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, Michael Dell, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Jane Fraser, and Tim Cook are among the executives expected to attend the State Dinner, according to the source.

Meetings between the leaders of the United States and China carry consequences far beyond the ceremonial events surrounding a state visit. Decisions involving trade, critical resources, investment, national security, and Americans detained abroad can have lasting ramifications. As President Trump and his advisers prepare for these discussions, let’s cover them in focused prayer.

• Pray for spiritual discernment for President Trump and his staff as they meet with Xi and the Chinese delegation.
• Pray that harmful outside influences would be kept at bay and that those advising the President would provide truthful and wise counsel.
• Pray for the safety of President Trump, his family, his staff, and everyone involved throughout the visit.
• Pray that President Trump would have a clear and accurate understanding of the issues before him, including their long-term implications for the United States.
• Pray that no binding agreement with China would take place during these meetings.

Share your prayers for President Trump and this consequential summit in the comments.

(Excerpt from The Epoch Times. Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)