Through Yu Dunhai
On October 13, 2026, Chinese language President Xi Jinping put forth a four-point proposition on advancing China-Africa mining cooperation throughout his assembly with President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana, who used to be on a state consult with to China. Grounded within the profound transformation of the worldwide important minerals panorama and Africa’s pressing want for impartial construction, and anchored within the broader context of conventional China-Africa friendship, the proposition charts the route for China-Africa mining cooperation within the new technology.
Because the Chinese language Ambassador to Nigeria, I’m keenly conscious about the strategic imaginative and prescient, forward-looking viewpoint, and sensible relevance of those 4 issues. They provide a concrete embodiment of the idea that of a China-Africa group with a shared long term, and supply sturdy improve for Nigeria and different African nations in remodeling their useful resource endowment into construction dividends. Drawing at the realities of China-Nigeria mining cooperation, I wish to percentage with Nigerian buddies a deeper working out of the wealthy substance of this four-point proposition.
First, we should adhere to the primary that African assets belong to Africa. That is the elemental premise of mining cooperation with African countries. Africa has lengthy been locked on the decrease finish of world commercial and worth chains by means of an inequitable world department of labour–a ancient injustice that should be corrected. Useful resource sovereignty is an integral element of nationwide sovereignty, and the power to regulate one’s personal useful resource future is the cornerstone of sustainable construction for African nations. China absolutely understands and respects Africa’s reliable aspirations. We’ve all the time revered the advance paths independently selected by means of African nations and stand in a position to percentage our enjoy to assist them formulate mining construction plans suited for their nationwide prerequisites. China helps Nigeria and different African nations in independently charting their mining construction paths, making sure that decision-making energy and the advantages of useful resource construction stay firmly in their very own palms.
2d, we should uphold the primary of pursuing the larger just right and shared pursuits, and searching for mutual get advantages and win-win effects. That is the core philosophy of China-Africa mining cooperation. In accomplishing mining cooperation, China and Africa should uphold a proper view of righteousness and get advantages. China by no means pursues unilateral maximization of advantages in its cooperation with Africa, and all the time adheres to win-win cooperation and not unusual construction. In Nigeria, Chinese language enterprises excited about power and mining sector no longer most effective carry capital and era, but in addition adhere to localized operations, and fasten significance to talents coaching and group contributions. The Chinese language Embassy will proceed to lead Chinese language enterprises in Nigeria to reinforce their operational features, switch inexperienced applied sciences, improve public welfare help, power native employment and ability coaching, and advertise South-South cooperation within the mining sector.
3rd, we should pursue top quality construction. That is the route of development for China-Africa mining cooperation. Selling native processing, extending commercial chains and extending cost addition are the important thing pathways for Africa to transform useful resource benefits into construction energy. China has all the time been a doer in supporting Africa’s construction and can proceed to power the transformation of China-Africa mining cooperation against upper commercial cost addition. We can deepen the alignment between China’s fifteenth 5-12 months Plan and Nigeria’s “Renewed Hope” Time table, push initiatives additional into deep processing and high-value-added segments, and assist Nigeria construct a extra entire commercial device. On this manner, assets can in point of fact grow to be a driving force of modernisation moderately than a supply of so-called “useful resource curse.”
Fourth, we should handle an even and open cooperation surroundings. That is the most important safeguard for mining cooperation with Africa. Africa’s assets will have to by no means be changed into gear of geopolitical competition. Any try to politicize or instrumentalize African useful resource problems in addition to to create disagreement and department will significantly harm the elemental pursuits of the African folks. China persistently advocates open cooperation and truthful festival. We welcome all events that truly need to improve Africa’s construction and stand in a position to paintings with African companions to handle a solid and predictable marketplace surroundings for mining cooperation, thereby growing extra beneficial prerequisites for undertaking funding and operations. China is in a position to sign up for palms with Nigeria in rejecting any try to deal with mineral assets as bargaining chip in geopolitical video games, making sure that useful resource construction all the time serves construction and advantages the folk.
I wish to emphasise specifically that the Chinese language executive calls for all Chinese language enterprises and electorate in Nigeria to strictly abide by means of Nigerian regulations and laws and to perform in a lawful and compliant way. We handle a zero-tolerance coverage towards unlawful mining and different felony actions. China helps Nigeria in taking sturdy measures to improve mining governance. The details display that the vast majority of Chinese language mining enterprises in Nigeria perform based on the legislation, actively fulfil their social obligations and offer protection to the surroundings. Remoted and faulty allegations that exaggerate particular person instances or distort the details are neither truthful nor conducive to the entire China-Nigeria friendship and cooperation. We stand in a position to paintings with the Nigerian facet to additional keep an eye on marketplace order, collectively struggle unlawful mining, and foster a wholesome and clear industry surroundings.
China and Africa percentage a not unusual long term and a vibrant outlook. Mechanism platforms such because the Discussion board on China-Africa Cooperation proceed to supply forged improve, whilst the dividends of China’s zero-tariff coverage for all diplomatic companions in Africa proceed to spread, growing beneficial prerequisites for deeper China-Africa cooperation. I’m satisfied that so long as each side uphold mutual admire and mutual get advantages, we will be able to flip Africa’s useful resource endowment into tangible construction results, ship larger advantages to the Chinese language and African peoples, and make larger contributions to construction a China-Africa group with a shared long term.
China stands in a position to paintings hand in hand with Nigeria and different African nations to totally enforce President Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal on China-Africa mining cooperation, write a brand new bankruptcy of top quality construction in China-Africa mining cooperation, make sure that Africa’s assets in point of fact serve the advance of the African folks, and make China-Africa mining cooperation a type of South-South cooperation and the most important drive in advancing Africa’s modernisation.
*H.E. Yu Dunhai is Chinese language Ambassador to Nigeria