The Democratic Republic of Congo and China signed an agreement to deepen their cooperation in the mining sector, amid growing global competition for the control of key strategic minerals for the energy transition. The announcement was made by the Congolese government, which stressed that the pact seeks to “strengthen investment and improve management” of the country's natural resources
.The agreement contemplates collaboration in areas such as the exchange of geological data, the protection of investments and the promotion of local processing of raw materials. It also includes a monitoring mechanism to ensure that projects comply with Congolese legislation and are developed in an environment considered stable and transparent. However, the agreement has raised questions about its effective implementation, given historical criticism of the lack of transparency in the sector
.The Democratic Republic of Congo is the world's leading producer of cobalt and has significant reserves of copper, lithium and coltan, essential minerals for the manufacture of batteries and technologies related to electric mobility. This wealth has made the country a strategic point for global powers that seek to secure the supply of these resources
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In this context, Chinese companies such as CMOC, Zijin Mining and Huayou Cobalt already have a dominant presence in the Congolese mining industry. In addition, China remains the African country's main bilateral creditor, reinforcing its economic and political influence in the region
.The agreement also coincides with the entry into force, as of May 1, of a tariff-free access regime for Congolese exports to China, within the framework of an initiative that covers more than 50 African countries. Although this measure could favor trade, specialists warn that it could also consolidate a model based on the export of raw materials without added value
