China and Congo agree to regular checks on mining deals

Congolese president is in China to overhaul mining contracts signed under his predecessor and woo Chinese investment

The central African nation is a major source of cobalt for China’s green energy transition

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Felix Tshisekedi (right), president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00pm, 27 May 2023

The presidents of China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have agreed to regularly assess mining cooperation in the long-term interests of both countries, according to a joint statement on Friday.

The agreement between presidents Xi Jinping and Félix Tshisekedi came after the Congolese leader arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday to push for an overhaul of mining contracts he considered “poorly negotiated” under his predecessor Joseph Kabila.

Tshisekedi is also seeking to woo more Chinese investment into the resource-rich African country and gain China’s help to fight M23 rebels in the country’s east.

On Friday, Xi welcomed his Congolese counterpart with a guard of honour and a 21-gun salute at Tiananmen Square, before talks in the Great Hall of the People.

Xi said China was ready to strengthen its partnership with Kinshasa and ramp up investment in the central African nation.

The two leaders also agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership – the highest level of bilateral relations for China.

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