Saint-Jean-de-Luz, August 24 (RHC)-- As the global economy shudders, the Middle East boils and the Amazon rainforest burns, world leaders are convening on France's Atlantic coast for a weekend of talks few believe can solve any of it.

President Donald Trump arrived in France Saturday morning after an overnight flight from Washington, following volleys of back-and-forth actions in the ongoing U.S. trade war against China.  The summit takes place as the Amazon burns out of control... which many believe has much, if not everything, to do with neo-liberal economic policies that Trump advocates.

The U.S. president is due to attend a dinner for the leaders Saturday evening and talks will officially begin Sunday morning.

World leaders have lots of things to discuss.  Foreign policy matters like Iran and renewed tensions between India and Pakistan are on the table.  The summit's host, French President Emmanuel Macron, says he also wants to address the raging wildfires in the Amazon rainforest.

But going into the summit, the slowing of the global economy appeared the most pressing matter. Trump insisted on a special Sunday morning session to discuss it.  Other leaders blame his use of tariffs -- on friends and enemies alike -- for weighing down growth, causing manufacturing to contract and throwing equity markets into turmoil.

The Donald is said to be preparing for the several individual meetings he's scheduled with other leaders -- including a new ally, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.  Trump is also due to meet one-on-one with the leaders of the other G-7 nations.