Call for Global Mining Cooperation

A report from chinadaily.com.cn Sept. 10th, 2026：

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.

"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.