The agreement comes amid growing concerns about Chinas digital power.
Fromsolar panel productiontoEV sales, the country has taken a global lead innumerous advanced technologies.
Against this backdrop, the partnership with Australia is a highly strategic one.
The country accounts for52%of global lithium production.
Australia also holdssignificant potentialfor the extraction of gallium and germanium, two key metals for the manufacturing of semiconductors.
China produces80%of the worlds gallium and60%of germanium.
The pact with Australia seeks to facilitate joint projects and research as well as investments and bilateral trade.
It will cover the entire value chain of critical minerals, from extraction and processing to refining and recycling.
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW.
With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
