Xi says African minerals 'belong to Africa'

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that African mineral resources "belong to Africa", offering Beijing's support for the industry and warning against geopolitical rivalries around it.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with Botswana's President Duma Boko, whose country has a large mining industry, according to China's official Xinhua news agency.

Xi said accepting that African resources belong to Africa must be a prerequisite for cooperation. He also said African resources must not become instruments of geopolitical rivalry and called on foreign powers involved in the sector to contribute to Africa's development.

China is a major player in Africa's mining sector and is Africa's largest trading partner. The United Nations says African countries hold about 30 percent of the world's critical mineral reserves, including cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel and rare earths.

Beijing extended a zero-tariff policy on May 1 to all African countries except Eswatini, with which it has no diplomatic relations.