Chinese Ambassador Denies Presence of Legal Chinese Mining Companies in Eastern DRC
Chinese Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zhao Bin, has firmly stated that no legally registered Chinese mining companies operate in the eastern provinces of the country. S
peaking at the inauguration of the Confucius Institute at the University of Kinshasa, he reaffirmed China’s opposition to illegal mining and called for the exposure of individuals misusing China’s name for illicit activities.
“I take this opportunity to reiterate that China firmly opposes any form of illegal mining in eastern Congo. There are no legally registered Chinese companies operating in these provinces. I urge you to report any illegal activities, and I assure you they will be dealt with swiftly,” said Zhao Bin.
His remarks follow a series of crackdowns on illegal mining operations involving Chinese nationals in South Kivu:
- December 2024: 17 Chinese nationals and their Congolese associates were arrested in Walungu for illegal mineral exploitation and lack of legal documentation. They were part of a larger group of about 60 Chinese miners operating under police protection.
- A second operation intercepted a convoy of 14 undocumented Chinese nationals, escorted by armed officers without mission orders.
- Early January 2025: Three more Chinese nationals were arrested in Mashango, South Kivu, while attempting to smuggle 12 gold bars and nearly $800,000 in cash across the border.
Despite concerns over illegal mining, China remains DRC’s largest investor, maintaining strong bilateral cooperation in trade, mining, and infrastructure development.
Ambassador Zhao Bin highlighted China’s role in advancing the Global Development Initiative (GDI), spearheaded by President Xi Jinping, which includes:
- Debt cancellation
- Development financing
- Infrastructure modernization
- Job creation
“Chinese investors have created tens of thousands of jobs, improved national infrastructure, and contributed to transforming DRC’s natural resources into development assets,” Zhao Bin emphasized.
In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded $26 billion, with China maintaining its status as the DRC’s largest investor for six consecutive years.
The ambassador reiterated that China remains committed to a development-driven partnership while ensuring mining activities comply with legal and ethical standards.
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