The Chinese ambassador in Niamey announced in an interview with Niger's national television that the Chinese government intends to play a "mediating role" in the political crisis in Niger.

Ambassador Jiang Feng stated in this interview following a meeting with Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahamadou Lamine Zain, who was appointed by the military regime, that "the Chinese government intends to perform a role of good offices and mediation, with full respect for the countries of the region to find a political solution to this Niger crisis."

He added that "China always adheres to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries" and encourages African nations "to solve their problems themselves."

China is a major economic partner for Niger, particularly in the energy sector.

The two countries are working on constructing a 2,000-kilometer oil pipeline, the longest in Africa, aimed at exporting crude oil from the Agadem fields (southeast Niger) to the port of Seme in Benin.

The Agadem fields are operated by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), which has also established a refinery in Zinder in southern Niger with a production capacity of 20,000 barrels per day, in which the Chinese company holds the majority of the capital.

Other Chinese companies are involved in construction work on the Kandadji Dam on the Niger River, a massive project valued at 740 billion West African francs (1.1 billion euros) in the far west of the country, which is expected to generate 629 gigawatt-hours annually to enable Niger to reduce its dependency on energy from neighboring Nigeria.

Following the coup, Nigeria halted electricity supplies to Niger, in implementation of the sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).