Critical minerals, waning Western influence a focus of Chinese FM’s African tour, analysts say
Voice of America
FILE - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a speech at the ministerial conference of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2024. FILE - Republic of the Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the opening ceremony of the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, in Beijing, China, Sept. 5, 2024.
Critical minerals and oil, a renewed focus on the Atlantic coast, and the West’s loss of influence in the Sahel are some of the reasons analysts believe Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has chosen the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Chad and Namibia as the stops on his visit to Africa this week.
FILE - Mining equipment and piles of ore are seen at the Sino Africa Huijin mine in Penhalonga, Manicaland province, Zimbabwe, Sept. 17, 2024. (Enos Danher/VOA)
FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron celebrates with French soldiers during a Christmas dinner at Port-Bouet military camp near Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Dec. 21, 2019, during a visit to West Africa.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
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A TV screen shows a file image of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as supporters of impeached Yoon stage a rally to oppose his impeachment near the presidential residence in Seoul, Jan. 7, 2025. Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attend a rally to oppose his impeachment near the presidential residence in Seoul, Jan. 7, 2025.
Israeli military vehicles operate during a raid at the Al-Faraa camp near Tubas, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jan. 7, 2025.
This handout received on Jan. 7, 2025, shows damaged houses in Shigatse, southwestern China's Tibet region, after an earthquake hit the area.
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In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, people stand amidst damaged houses in the aftermath of an earthquake in Tonglai Village, Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze, southwestern China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Jan. 7, 2025.
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FILE - Tencent sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023.