27th May 2023 – (Beijing) China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have agreed to deepen their military cooperation in a meeting between Chinese State Councillor and Minister of National Defence Li Shangfu and DRC Vice Prime Minister and Defence Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba in Beijing.
The talks coincided with the upgrade of their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Li praised the military cooperation between the two countries across various sectors and pledged China’s continued support for the DRC’s national defense and military development.
Bemba, on his part, expressed his appreciation for the growing friendship between their armies and reaffirmed the DRC’s commitment to furthering military cooperation with China.
This high-level meeting between the defense ministers took place during DRC President Felix Tshisekedi’s state visit to China, which underscores the strengthening of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.
The move to deepen military cooperation between China and the DRC comes as China continues to expand its military presence and influence in Africa. The country has been actively seeking to strengthen its military ties with African nations through arms sales, military aid, and training programs.