U.S. President Donald Trump will treat Chinese President Xi Jinping to a state dinner on Thursday. A state visit is the highest diplomatic honor the United States offers to leaders of other nations.
It will be President Trump’s fifth state dinner across his two terms. There will be 125 guests in attendance, including technology and AI industry leaders.
Xi was last in the United States for a state visit in September 2015 during Barack Obama’s administration. President Trump visited China in May, as well as in his first term, for talks with the Chinese leader.
President Trump has not always had a pleasant relationship with China. When he first ran for office, he publicly blamed trade with China for problems in the U.S. economy.
The United States and China are in constant competition. China controls much of the world’s rare earths, materials engineers need to build electronics. During both of his presidential terms, President Trump increased tariffs and restricted trade with China. He hoped the moves would slow China’s fast progress in artificial intelligence and weaponry.
Instead, China increased trade with other countries. Now President Trump is shifting his approach. Instead of tariffs, how about some turkey?
Evan Medeiros was a National Security Council director on China for the Obama White House. He says state visits usually come with goals for policy or trade. It’s not yet clear what Thursday’s visit will bring. President Trump might be focused on the relationship itself, rather than clear political goals.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. — 1 Timothy 2:1-2
