The Democratic Republic of Congo will participate in the 2026 China Mining Conference and Exhibition as it seeks to attract investment while advancing its ambitions in geological exploration, mineral processing and national participation in the mining value chain.
Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba is leading the Congolese delegation to the event, scheduled for 10–12 September at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin.
According to the ministry, the delegation left Beijing for Tianjin on 8 September. Its participation is intended to promote the DRC’s mineral potential and strengthen strategic partnerships capable of generating more value for the country.
The conference comes at a significant point in the DRC’s relations with China. Chinese companies already occupy major positions in the country’s copper and cobalt industry, making the discussion less about introducing China to Congolese resources and more about determining the form future investment should take.
During an official visit to China in March, Watum held talks with China Minmetals Corporation, the parent company of MMG Kinsevere. The company was reported to have invested more than $600 million in the DRC over the preceding two years, supported almost 4,000 jobs and expressed interest in acquiring additional mining permits.
The Congolese government used those discussions to emphasise geological research, domestic processing, sustainable employment and greater national participation in the mining economy. Mines.cd
A conference built around transactions
China Mining is not limited to speeches and exhibitions. The 2026 edition includes project presentations, mining-right transactions, investor meetings and dedicated facilities for negotiations and agreement signings.
Organisers say the conference will also cover exploration, mineral processing, intelligent mining, equipment, environmental rehabilitation and low-carbon development. Its theme is “Win-Win Cooperation, Green and Intelligent.” Official conference announcement
This gives the DRC an opportunity to present specific projects, but attendance alone carries limited economic value. The more meaningful outcomes would be commitments tied to geological data, processing infrastructure, technology transfer, Congolese employment and measurable local procurement.
China already understands the scale of the DRC’s mineral resources. Tianjin is an opportunity for Kinshasa to define more precisely what investors must contribute in return for access to them.
