During his visit to Australia on the 5th, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the two countries have signed a series of cooperation agreements on critical minerals, including Australia's accession to the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance led by Canada.

       "For countries like ours—middle powers—the question is: do we set the norms and write the new rules that determine our own security and prosperity, or do hegemonic powers increasingly dictate the outcomes?" Carney reiterated the "middle power" argument during his speech at the Australian Federal Parliament on the 5th. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Carney stated that many countries around the world have decided they must achieve greater strategic autonomy. Canada and Australia are collaborating in five areas to build independent capabilities, including critical minerals, defense, artificial intelligence, capital, and trade.

       At a press conference on the 5th, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in multiple areas and further bilateral relations based on the Statement of Intent on Critical Minerals Cooperation signed last year. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the critical minerals sector through a series of measures, including coordinating positions on key issues related to critical minerals, enhancing synergy between Australia's Critical Minerals Stockpile and Canada's Defense Stockpile System, jointly promoting the development of emerging markets, and Australia's accession to the Canada-led G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance. Albanese also mentioned that the upgraded critical minerals agreement fully aligns with the "Future Made in Australia" agenda. Both countries are working to diversify trade relationships to ensure they are not disrupted by shocks from any particular country.

       Canada's The Globe and Mail commented on the 5th that Canada has been talking about economic diversification for years, and Australia is one of the few partners that aligns with Canada in values, institutions, and economic interests without needing to be coerced into agreement. This is precisely the kind of relationship middle powers should build before the next major shock arrives.

       According to Reuters, Australia has allocated A$1.2 billion to establish a critical minerals stockpile system, with initial reserves including antimony, gallium, and rare earths. The report noted that in recent years, Western countries have been trying to reduce their dependence on China's critical minerals supply chain. Australia and Canada together produce one-third of the world's lithium and uranium and over 40% of its iron ore. Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson previously stated that the most effective way to address the high concentration of critical mineral supplies is to establish production alliances or "buyers' clubs," not just set price floors.

       A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson previously commented on the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance, stating that China's regulation and improvement of its export control system align with international practices and aim to better safeguard world peace and regional stability while fulfilling international obligations such as non-proliferation. We urge the G7 to genuinely adhere to the principles of the market economy and international economic and trade rules, stop undermining the international economic and trade order with "small circle" rules, and work together to maintain stable global economic development.