Highlights: Felix Tshisekedi arrives in China on Wednesday for a state visit. He comes to answer Xi Jinping's invitation. The two men will hold talks on bilateral relations. The Congolese president is at the head of a large government delegation that will stay in this country until May 29. Politics, technology, defence, economy and trade will be at the heart of this state visit, the DRC presidency says. The mission is described as strategic given that China is the main destination for Congolous mining products.

Felix Tshisekedi arrives in China on Wednesday for a state visit. He comes to answer Xi Jinping's invitation. The two men will hold talks on bilateral relations. The President...

DRC: Felix Tshisekedi begins a state visit to China with a strong focus on the economy

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi is due to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday. © Arsène Mpiana / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

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Felix Tshisekedi arrives in China on Wednesday for a state visit. He comes to answer Xi Jinping's invitation. The two men will hold talks on bilateral relations. The Congolese president is at the head of a large government delegation that will stay in this country until May 29. Politics, technology, defence, economy and trade will be at the heart of this state visit.

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It is in Beijing that must begin the visit of the Congolese head of state expected this Wednesday after a long journey to rally the two capitals. He is due to meet Chinese President Xi Xinping there on Friday. On the program then, several stages including Shenzhen, Shanghai and Hong Kong according to the Congolese presidency, for a trip where it will be mainly a question of economy.

The Congolese president announced last Friday upcoming discussions around the rebalancing of the economic partnership between the two countries. A contract, signed in 2008 by Kinshasa and a group of Chinese companies, provided for the exploitation of Congolese natural resources against the construction of infrastructure. But the General Inspectorate of Finance revealed an imbalance, at the expense of Congo.

The government wants to make this collaboration "win-win", according to Congolese officials. Moreover, the members of the government directly involved in these negotiations are part of the mission. These include the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, his colleague from Finance and the Minister of Mines.

The mission is described as strategic given that China is the main destination for Congolese mining products, including cobalt. Congo-Kinshasa is the world's leading producer of this mineral, which is particularly important in the energy transition. This state visit also takes place at a time when the European Union and the DRC are preparing to launch negotiations for a partnership on mining, always with a view to the ecological transition.

Finally, if China remains the main destination for Congolese mining products, other themes must still be addressed during this trip. Memoranda of understanding will be signed in several areas, including communication and digital. Meetings with Chinese giants in the sector are also planned, including one with Huawei, already present in the DRC. With this state visit, Felix Tshisekedi hopes to give another impetus to economic and trade cooperation between his country and China.

DRC: Felix Tshisekedi begins a state visit to China with a strong focus on the economy

DRC: Felix Tshisekedi begins a state visit to China with a strong focus on the economy

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