DRC to Initiate Discussions on Chinese Contract Rebalancing
The Congolese Government is set to launch discussions on the rebalancing of the 2007 Cooperation Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Chinese companies.
During a recent Council of Ministers meeting, the President of the Republic announced the availability of conclusions on the draft rebalancing, enabling talks with Chinese partners in the coming days.
The objective of the DRC is to strengthen and expand Sino-Congolese cooperation based on principles of mutual respect, fairness, and transparency, benefiting both nations.
To ensure a truly win-win outcome, the President has instructed key ministers and the Strategic Committee to coordinate negotiations for the amendment of the Cooperation Agreement.
The Minister of State for Infrastructure and Public Works, the Minister of State for Budget, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Mines, and their respective departments, along with the President’s Cabinet, will work closely with the Chinese party to finalize and sign the future amendment.
Learning from past mistakes, the government has assembled a strong negotiating team supported by technical expertise from Gécamines, the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF), the Agency for Steering, Coordination and Monitoring of Collaboration Agreements (APSCC), and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ITIE-DRC). The inclusion of these entities aims to ensure comprehensive analysis and informed decision-making throughout the negotiation process.
It is important to note that the President previously shared concerning reports from various state structures regarding the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement.
In response, he directed relevant government members, in collaboration with civil society, to identify specific points for discussion with the Chinese side. The ultimate goal is to rebalance the agreement and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.
