Eco-friendly and more intelligent development of resources urged

Senior officials from around the world convened in Tianjin on Thursday, calling for greener and more intelligent development in the mining sector, as well as strengthened international cooperation to build a more sustainable and equitable global mineral supply chain.

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said China has advanced global mining cooperation through concrete actions in recent years, put into practice the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, and developed a high-quality development path of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation.

He said that China fully respects the sovereignty of all countries over their mineral resources, supports their right to independently choose development paths for resource exploitation and industries suited to their national conditions, and stands ready to deepen comprehensive, practical cooperation with other countries.

The remarks were made at the opening ceremony of the 28th China Mining Conference and Exhibition, a three-day event held at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center.

"As global energy transition and industrial transformation accelerate, international cooperation on green minerals is the shared choice for addressing climate change and cultivating new drivers of growth," said Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative and vice-minister of commerce.

Li noted that uneven development across countries persists and that the capacity to turn resource endowments into development advantages still needs improvement. Facing new challenges, he said, China will uphold the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to advance international economic and trade cooperation on green minerals.

Pedro Manuel Moreno, acting secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, echoed Li's views, saying the gap between resource wealth and captured value remains stark.

"Too many mineral-rich countries are still exporting raw materials and importing finished products made from their own resources," Moreno said.

He cited Indonesia's nickel strategy and Chile's copper supplier ecosystem as evidence that the pattern can be reversed through industrial clustering, strategic partnerships and targeted policy.

Zhang Gong, mayor of Tianjin, called for leveraging the China Mining Conference and Exhibition as a major platform for international cooperation, harnessing the radiating role of Tianjin Port, and promoting joint mechanism building, policy-sharing and corridor development.

Zhang urged deeper integration of standards, technology and industry across exploration, engineering design, equipment manufacturing and low-carbon operations to advance safe, intelligent and green mining development.

On expanding open cooperation, he called for strengthening regular exchanges among mining departments, enterprises and industry talent from around the world, and advancing cooperation across mining rights trading, shipping and logistics, equipment leasing and cross-border finance to build closer and more efficient partnerships.

Noraldaim Mohamed Ahmed Taha, Sudan's minister of minerals, said the conference theme — "win-win cooperation, green and intelligent" — closely reflects Sudan's vision for the future of mining: partnership, technology, environmental responsibility and shared prosperity.

"Sudan is equally committed to green and intelligent mining," Taha said, noting that his country is promoting greater use of renewable energy, efficient water management, safer processing technologies and responsible environmental practices.

"China is a global leader in these fields. Sudan looks forward to further strengthening its cooperation with China in areas of mutual interest and shared benefit," he added.

David Abiamofo, Suriname's minister of natural resources, said his country's combination of mineral wealth and an intact natural environment defines both its opportunity and its responsibility.

"Suriname does not see the two as competing claims," Abiamofo said. "Our policy is to develop our resources in a manner that keeps our forests standing, our rivers clean and our communities whole."

The conference also witnessed the release of the Tianjin declaration on green mining development. It affirms that mineral resources are essential for economic and social development, green and low-carbon transitions are crucial for high-quality global mining, intelligent upgrades drive industry innovation, and deepening international partnerships is the fundamental path for all parties to address shared challenges and achieve mutual benefits jointly.

Green and low-carbon development takes center stage, with the declaration calling for green exploration and mine construction, improved resource efficiency, and full-cycle energy conservation and emission reduction. It also calls for active response to climate change and encourages research into and commercialization of low-carbon technologies.

The declaration promotes integrating artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things and digital twin technologies with mining operations, developing intelligent mines and automated, remote-controlled systems, and emphasizing collaboration among industry, academia and research, as well as talent development.

It also urges countries to advance cooperation on green minerals, promote mutual recognition of technical standards, facilitate trade and investment, and support developing countries to participate more effectively in global green mining.

Contact the writers at limenghan@chinadaily.com.cn