"China turns to belt and road countries in race to secure tech-critical minerals" 25 October 2023

As the US and China continue their stand-off over the latter’s rising technological capacity – and control over the minerals critical for tech production and development becomes a question of paramount importance – Beijing has intensified its efforts to build partnerships with countries taking part in its Belt and Road Initiative to ensure a steady, stable supply chain for these essential raw materials.

China secured mineral cooperation deals with more than 10 countries in Asia, South America and Africa during last week’s Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, according to the project list and statement released by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

One such agreement concerned continued investment in the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, believed to have the world’s largest untapped high-quality iron ore reserve with an estimated 2.4 billion tonnes...

China is also looking to Asian partners, especially resource-rich Indonesia and Kazakhstan...The country is investing in a nickel cobalt hydroxide wet process project, a nickel metal production line and supporting facilities with an annual output of 126,000 tonnes in Indonesia, and a tungsten mine project in Kazakhstan...

Other projects include the second phase of the Kamoa copper and cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Kururi potash mine project in Eritrea and the 3Q and Cauchari-olaroz lithium projects, both in Argentina.

Cooperation on minerals was brought up in several meetings between national leaders during the forum, including those held with Chile, Mongolia and Serbia...

Beijing has repeatedly stressed the gravity of its energy security and mineral supplies...This need has been made all the more apparent as Western countries attempt to disrupt China’s supply chains for these essential elements.

After the US levied curbs on China’s access to advanced technology, the country ordered reciprocal export restrictions on gallium and germanium beginning in August – two technology-critical elements over which China has a near-monopoly supply.

Both countries have an interest in securing mineral resources for industrial advancement in fields like semiconductors, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles...