BEIJING/ISLAMABAD; China’s foreign ministry has said that Pakistan keeps its “iron brother” informed of its cooperation with the United States in the mining sector, emphasizing that both countries maintain a “high-level strategic mutual trust and close communication” on key issues.
“The two countries have maintained high-level strategic mutual trust and close communication on major issues concerning each other’s common interests. From what I’ve learned, the two countries have been in communication on Pakistan–US mining cooperation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.
His remarks came amid growing attention on Pakistan’s recent partnership with US Strategic Metals. In September, the American firm signed a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan to invest approximately $500 million in mineral development and processing facilities. To advance the deal, the company has dispatched its first shipment of mineral samples to the United States.
The consignment, prepared in collaboration with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), includes antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium — materials critical to industries ranging from clean energy to defense technology.
Pakistan currently exports nearly $1.2 billion worth of copper ore annually to China and has been deepening cooperation with its closest strategic partner in the mining and minerals sector.
China, which processes more than 90% of the world’s rare earth elements, has tightened its export controls on these critical materials. Last week, Beijing added five more rare earth elements — holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium — to its list of restricted exports, bringing the total to 17. These elements are vital in manufacturing electric vehicles, aircraft engines, and advanced military radars.
Lin Jian was asked about the recent mineral shipment to the United States and whether it was connected to China’s new export restrictions. He clarified that Islamabad and Beijing remain in close contact on mining activities and stressed that Pakistan had assured China that its cooperation with Washington “will never harm China’s interests or its cooperation with China.”
In reference to a photograph circulating online showing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir presenting mineral samples to US President Donald Trump during a September meeting, Lin dismissed speculation as “baseless.”
“The samples shown to the US leader were gem ores purchased by staff in Pakistan. The reported stories are either misinformed, fabricated, or intended to sow discord between China and Pakistan,” Lin said.
He further explained that China’s newly released export control measures on rare earth elements have “nothing to do with Pakistan.” He described the move as a legitimate step to refine China’s export control regime in line with international obligations, aimed at safeguarding world peace and regional stability.
Reaffirming Beijing’s ties with Islamabad, Lin reiterated that China and Pakistan are “all-weather strategic cooperative partners” whose friendship “has stood the test of time.”
China’s recent expansion of export controls on rare earths further tightens its grip on critical minerals essential for the global energy transition. From November 8, exporters will need special licenses to sell any of the restricted materials abroad, underscoring Beijing’s strategic leverage in the rare earth market.