China Offers Malaysia Rare Earths Processing Under Conditions

China offered Malaysia its first overseas rare-earths processing plant, only under strict state-linked conditions. Talks still preliminary.
Rare earth ore on display at a museum in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. China offered Malaysia its first overseas rare-earths processing plant, only under strict state-linked conditions. Talks still preliminary. Image via Xinhua.

China has opened the door for Malaysia to host what would be its first overseas rare earths processing venture. This was revealed after President Xi Jinping signalled Beijing’s readiness to provide technical assistance, only if run through government-linked companies.

The offer was confirmed in a parliamentary written reply from Malaysia’s Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. He said Xi raised the matter during his April 15–17 state visit to Kuala Lumpur.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Edwin Shri Bimo

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

You Might Like

China is quietly expanding its strategic reserves of key industrial metals, including nickel, just as top producers Indonesia and the Philippines tighten export policies and raise mining royalties, reshaping global supply chains.

China Expands Strategic Reserve of Industrial Metals as Indonesia, Philippines Tighten Supply

China is quietly expanding its strategic reserves of key industrial metals, including nickel, just as Indonesia and the Philippines tighten export policies and raise mining royalties, reshaping global supply chains. Beijing’s stockpiling efforts ...

Australian Mining ‘Under Assault’ From Chinese Mining, Says U.S. Ambassador

The U.S. ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, rallied to the defense of Aussie mining companies who she said were “under assault” from Chinese rivals that exploit labor and the environment. Kennedy made ...

Australian Firm Produces Heavy Rare Earth, First Outside China

Australian firm Lynas Rare Earths says it has become the first commercial producer outside China of heavy rare earths, used in an array of renewable energy technologies. Lynas produced dysprosium oxide at its ...

Australian Firm Produces Heavy Rare Earth, First Outside China

Australian firm Lynas Rare Earths says it has become the first commercial producer outside China of heavy rare earths, used in an array of renewable energy technologies. Lynas produced dysprosium oxide at its ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP