Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is extending an invitation to China for collaboration in the development of its domestic rare earth elements (REE) processing industry, as announced by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). The ministry emphasized the strategic benefits of partnering with nations that possess advanced technology in REE processing.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia acknowledges its existing rare earth deposits but highlights a gap in the necessary expertise and technology for processing these resources. MITI has expressed the country’s openness to partnerships with technologically advanced countries, including China and the United States, to enhance its capabilities in the REE sector.

MITI’s statement came as a written response to a query by Syerleena Abdul Rashid, a representative of the Bukit Bendera constituency, regarding how Malaysia plans to balance China’s involvement in the REE industry with its current relations with the United States. The ministry assured that engaging with China aims to prevent reliance on REE separation technology from a single nation.

Furthermore, MITI underlined that this cooperative approach is in line with Malaysia’s national policies, such as the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the National Advanced Materials Technology Roadmap 2021-2030, which prioritize the development of high-tech materials.