China deepens green-minerals partnerships as Africa becomes its strategic powerhouse

Li launched what he called an “international economic and trade co-operation initiative on green minerals,” framing it as a platform for equitable collaboration between China and resource-rich nations.

Oilprice.com reports that early members of the alliance are expected to include more than a dozen developing countries, such as Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Nigeria, and Myanmar which are all significant holders of rare earths, alongside the UN Industrial Development Organisation.

According to Bloomberg, Li defended China’s existing curbs on rare-earth exports, insisting they were necessary to protect national interests while still supporting peaceful applications.

He added that Beijing intends to “promote mutually beneficial cooperation and peaceful use of key minerals,” noting that the initiative will help “safeguard the interests of developing countries, while prudently addressing military and other uses.”

China’s accelerated push into Africa’s green-mineral sector is deepening the global race with the United States for control of resources vital to electric vehicles, renewable energy, and advanced defense systems.

While Washington under President Donald Trump is backing North American lithium and rare-earth projects and encouraging Western companies to build magnet supply chains outside China, Beijing’s advantage remains overwhelming.

Two decades ago, it produced half of the world’s sintered permanent magnets; today it dominates nearly the entire market, supplying components essential for electric cars, wind turbines, data centres, and military systems.

Africa sits at the centre of this dominance. The continent holds world-class reserves of cobalt, lithium, manganese, graphite, copper, and rare earths, minerals crucial for the clean-energy transition.

China moved early to secure access through mining concessions, infrastructure-for-minerals deals, and long-term supply agreements.

In countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia, Chinese companies command major stakes in green-mineral production, with much of the output refined in China.

Beijing’s new green-minerals cooperation initiative is expected to strengthen this grip further, positioning China as Africa’s most influential partner and reshaping the future of global energy supply chains.