Chinese President Declares Readiness to Support Africa's Mining Sector

Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed on Tuesday that Africa's resources "belong to it alone," announcing his country's readiness to support the mining sector in the Dark Continent and warning against it falling victim to "geopolitical rivalries."

Xi's remarks came during a meeting held in Beijing with Botswana's President Duma Boko, whose country possesses vast natural resources.

Xi emphasized that accepting the principle that "African resources are for Africa alone must be a prerequisite for any cooperation."

He added that "the unjust international division of labor has pushed Africa to the bottom of the economic value ladder, a historical injustice that must be addressed immediately," according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

The Chinese President also called for establishing a balance between "ethical principles and economic interests," offering his country's assistance in preparing development plans.

African countries are home to approximately 30% of the world's reserves of critical minerals, such as cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements, making them an important arena for strategic competition between Beijing and Washington, as well as other international actors.

In this context, Xi stressed the necessity that "African resources do not become tools for geopolitical conflicts," urging all relevant foreign powers to "work in good faith for Africa's development" and maintain a "stable" environment for cooperation.

China is Africa's largest trading partner and a key supporter of major infrastructure projects across the continent under the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

On May 1 last year, Beijing announced the cancellation of tariffs on imports from all African countries except Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Observers accuse external parties, including China, of exploiting the continent's resources and preventing its peoples from benefiting from them effectively.