Well that would be the speculation an amateur journalist would...

Well that would be the speculation an amateur journalist would want you to believe.
Lets face it thosethat want to believe that the President will simply rule on the ML in favour ofthe Chinese haven’t really assessed what is happening in the region and why theDRC is so critical in world politics at this time.
To look at this simply from a minerals and resources perspective is plain naïve.
The DRC reports the Chinese have been extremely slow to respond in providing the infrastructure benefits they had promised the DRC in return for the Mining licences granted back in 2014. So where is the cash or infrastructure that you promised Xi Ping? Your companies such as Zijin Mining are destroying our environment through their mining activities!
Look at this in terms of the Chinese Gov't motives and the only infrastructurethe Chinese are interested in building are ports and road infrastructure to build a Military base so that China can manage their military interests from a more strategic location against the US and its allies.
The US are acutely aware of this and hence the importance of the discussions with the US President and his colleagues haven’t been on looking for off take agreements in trade but more importantly securing the support from the DRCfor pursuing a democracy in the region that is aimed at protecting the safety of neighbouring countries against the military interests of the Chinese. President Felix can see an alliance with the US is the best way forward for his country and its people. President Felix will be spelling this out loud and clear to Xi Ping that his Country is off limits in this regard.
Xi Ping will need to have more than Peking Duck on the menu for President Felix when they meet if Chinese companies such as Zijin are to be permitted to continue working their Mining Licences in the future.