Once again, the fragrance of osmanthus fills the air as the international mining industry gathers for a grand event. From September 21 to 23, the 2022 (24th) China International Mining Conference—under the theme “Sustainable Mining for Sustainable Economic Growth”—was held online.

　　Mining is a major driving force behind global economic growth, and some countries even regard energy and mineral resources as tools for overcoming political and economic crises. At present, the global development process has been severely impacted, international development cooperation has lost momentum, and the development gap between the North and the South continues to widen. As the world undergoes a transformation of unprecedented magnitude in a century, and as the characteristics of global change, epochal change, and historical change become increasingly evident, it is now more crucial than ever to see how this year’s Mining Congress can pinpoint the direction for future mining development and better promote the sustainable development of the mining industry.

　　General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We cannot eat away at our ancestors’ legacy and cut off the path for future generations.” Sustainable development is a coordinated approach to economic, social, resource, and environmental protection—a development that not only achieves the goal of economic growth but also safeguards the natural resources and environment upon which humanity depends for survival, ensuring that future generations can enjoy sustainable development and live in harmony with nature. For the mining industry, sustainable development is not only an inevitable path toward high-quality growth, but also the cornerstone and guarantee for achieving sustainable economic growth. The fact that this conference has chosen the theme “Sustainable Mining for Sustainable Economic Growth” underscores precisely the critical importance of the mining industry to economic growth.

　　Achieving sustainable development in the mining industry is an essential path to realizing high-quality development in the mining sector.

　　To achieve sustainable development in the mining industry, we must adhere to the principle of "increasing revenue and reducing expenditure," continuously enhancing our capacity to secure mineral resources and ensuring that we firmly hold the "industrial grain" in our own hands. The globally uneven distribution of mineral resources directly dictates that no single country in the world can rely entirely on its own mineral resources to meet its development needs. This also makes the mining industry a global, open, and inclusive sector. Therefore, we must—on the one hand—focus intently on domestic efforts: intensify exploration and development of domestic mineral resources, promptly seek new breakthroughs in geological prospecting, and expand reserves and production capacity. At the same time, we should make good use of resources by further strengthening the protection and efficient utilization of strategic minerals and continually improving the level of comprehensive mineral resource utilization. On the other hand, we must fully leverage "two markets and two types of resources," uphold the principle of "win-win cooperation and common development," and continue to step up international cooperation in mining investment.

　　To achieve sustainable development in the mining industry, we must fully implement the new development philosophy, taking “green” as the underlying tone and truly transforming the mining sector into a new model of development characterized by innovation as the primary driving force, coordination as an intrinsic feature, green practices as the prevailing norm, openness as an inevitable path, and shared benefits as the ultimate goal. After more than a decade of exploration and practice, China has essentially established a green mining development framework and has developed a large number of Chinese green mining models that are replicable and scalable worldwide. Many Chinese enterprises, in the process of “going global,” have brought their experience in green mining construction to foreign countries, thereby improving their relations with local communities and enhancing their positive international image. It is undeniable that, at present, in some parts of the world, the ecological environment remains relatively fragile, and there still exist conflicts between mining development and ecological conservation. Moreover, the mining industry’s capacity for sustainable development remains relatively weak. This underscores the need for us, as we continue to “go global,” to remain steadfastly committed to strengthening green mining development and continuously enhancing the mining industry’s capacity for sustainable development through Chinese solutions and wisdom.

　　To achieve sustainable development in the mining sector, it is essential to strengthen the supply security of primary mineral products and accelerate the establishment of a new development paradigm, thereby consolidating the foundations and bolstering the driving forces behind economic growth. Primary products such as energy and minerals constitute the most fundamental component of the entire economy. The strength and quality of their supply assurance directly determine the vitality, resilience, and shock-resistance of global economic development—and even influence the smooth realization of our goal of achieving high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening. As the global economy continues to grow, living standards keep rising, and energy structures are constantly adjusted and optimized, global demand for most primary products will continue to increase. We must adhere to the principles of “inclusiveness and universal benefit, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation,” uphold the approach of joint consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits, enhance international cooperation and exchanges in the mining sector, employ diverse means and adopt multiple measures, and take a multi-faceted approach—from resource extraction and transportation to circulation—to build a complete global mining industry value chain.

　　“Development is the key to solving various challenges and achieving people’s happiness.” In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum held on June 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the pressing questions facing humanity and clearly put forward four propositions for seizing the trends of our times and forging a brighter future. “We must stand in solidarity and work together to promote global sustainable development” is one of these propositions. This not only builds consensus and points the way toward realizing common global development and opening up a brighter prospect for the global development endeavor, but also provides clear guidance and sets the course for the sustainable development of the global mining industry and the sustained growth of the global economy.

　　As the tide levels and the shores stretch wide, a single sail is hoisted in the steady breeze. Only by jointly building a global community for mining development—continuously enhancing global capacity to ensure mineral resource security and steadily raising the level of sustainable development in the global mining sector—can we achieve sustainable global economic growth and open up even broader prospects for the common development of humanity.

　　As the osmanthus flowers bloom, the grand event of the international mining industry is upon us once again. From September 21st to 23rd, the 2022 (24th) China Mining Conference and Exhibition, themed “Sustainable Mining, for Sustainable Economic Growth,” will be held online.

　　Mining is the primary impetus behind the world economic growth, and some countries even regard energy and minerals as tools to get rid of the political and economic crisis. At present, the global development process has been hit hard and the momentum of international development cooperation has been weakened, resulting in a bigger gap between Global North and South. Today, the changes of the world, of our times and of history are unfolding in ways like never before. Under the new situation, how the 2022 China Mining Conference and Exhibition will determine the future direction of mining development and better promote Mining Sustainable Development is of particular concern.

　　“We must not exhaust all the resources passed on to us by previous generations and leave nothing to our children,” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out. Sustainable development is the coordinated development of economic, social, resource, and environmental protection. It is not only to achieve the purpose of economic development, but also to protect the natural resources and environment which provide the very basis for the human race to survive. Only then can we realize sustainable development for future generations and harmonious coexistence between man and nature. While mining sustainable development is not only the only way for the high-quality development of the mining industry, but also the cornerstone and guarantee for sustainable economic growth. The conference theme “Sustainable Mining, for Sustainable Economic Growth” may suffice to illustrate the importance of mining to economic growth.

　　Achieving sustainable development in mining is the only way to realize high-quality development of the mining industry.

　　To achieve mining sustainable development, we must continue to open up resource sources and regulate resource flows from time to time, enhance our capacity to ensure mineral resource security, and maintain control over our own "industrial grain" supply. The uneven distribution of mineral resources worldwide means that no country can entirely rely on its own mineral resources to meet its development needs. Thus, mining is a global industry that is open and inclusive. This calls for us to keep a balanced perspective on both fronts. On the one hand, we must continue to intensify efforts in domestic mineral exploration and development, striving to achieve new breakthroughs in geological prospecting as soon as possible and thereby increasing reserves and production capacity. On this basis, we must make the most efficient use of resources, further strengthen the protection and economical utilization of strategic and critical minerals, and continuously improve the level of comprehensive mineral resource utilization. On the other hand, it is essential to fully leverage both domestic and international markets and resources, uphold the principle of "win-win cooperation and mutual benefit," and step up efforts in international mining investment cooperation.

　　To achieve mining sustainable development, we must fully apply the New Development Philosophy. It requires that green is taken as the "background color", and the mining industry is transferred into a new development model with innovation as the primary engine, coordination as the internal characteristic, green as the universal form, openness as the unavoidable path, and sharing as the fundamental purpose. After more than 10 years of exploration and practice building green mines, China has basically established a green mining development dynamic. A large number of Chinese Green Mine construction programs that can be copied and promoted to other countries have been formed. In the process of "Going Global", many Chinese enterprises have brought China's green mine construction experience abroad, improving their relations with the local area, resulting in a good international profile. It is undeniable that at present, the ecological environment in some parts of the world is still relatively fragile. There is still a contradiction between mining development and ecological environmental protection, and therefore a weak mining sustainable development ability. It requires us to remain steadfast in our commitment to Green Mines construction in the process of "Going Global", and continue to improve Mining Sustainable Development ability base on Chinese approaches and knowledge.

　　To achieve mining sustainable development, we must strengthen the supply of primary mineral products, accelerate the creation of a new development dynamic, and consolidate the foundation for economic growth. Energy, minerals, and other primary products are the most fundamental components of the entire economy. As a result, the capacity and level of primary-product supply security directly determine the quality, resilience, and shock resistance of our economy—and even the realization of high-level self-reliance and self-improvement objectives will be affected. With the development of the global economy, the improvement of people’s living standards, and the optimization of the energy structure, global demand for most primary products will continue to grow. We must adhere to the principle of “inclusive growth for all,” uphold the principles of consultation, co-construction, and shared benefits, and strengthen cooperation and exchanges in the global mining sector. We can start from resources, transportation, circulation, and other key links, and contribute to the entire global mining industry chain through a variety of measures.

　　“Development is the key to various problems and people's happiness.” In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum held on June 22nd, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward a 4-point proposition which helped to grasp the trend of the times and create a bright future. One of the four points—“We must watch out for each other and jointly promote global sustainable development”—not only points out the direction for global common development but also offers a promising outlook for the sustainable development of the global mining and economic sectors.

　　As an ancient Chinese poem says, “The water’s wide at the full tide, A sail with ease hangs in soft breeze.” Only by jointly building a community of global mining development, enhancing the security and guarantee capabilities of global mineral resources, and improving the sustainable development level of the global mining industry can we achieve a sustainable growth in the global economy and open up broader prospects for the common development.