It was learned at the press conference for the 4th China (Hunan) International Mineral and Gem Fair (hereinafter referred to as the “Mineral Fair”), held on April 8 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, that the 4th Mineral Fair will be held from May 19 to 23 in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province.

　　The scene from the press conference for the 4th China (Hunan) International Mineral and Gem Fair.

　　The China (Hunan) International Mineral and Gem Fair, co-hosted by the People’s Government of Hunan Province and the Ministry of Natural Resources, is Asia’s largest specialized exhibition dedicated to minerals and gems. Last year, during the third Mineral and Gem Fair held in Chenzhou, two key indicators—visitor numbers and transaction volume—both reached record highs: 380,000 visitors and RMB 1.6 billion in transactions. The fair featured 2,616 standard booths and attracted exhibitors from over 300 international companies representing 85 countries worldwide. With its massive scale and unprecedented grandeur, the fair received high praise from exhibitors and has now risen to rival the Tucson Show in the U.S. and the Munich Show in Germany in terms of influence. Accordingly, at the 64th Executive Meeting of the People’s Government of Hunan Province on November 30, 2015, it was decided that the Mineral and Gem Fair would be permanently held in Chenzhou.

　　The upcoming 4th Mineral Expo is co-organized by the People's Government of Chenzhou City and the Department of Natural Resources of Hunan Province, with Chenzhou International Mineral & Gem Expo Co., Ltd. serving as the primary marketing and promotion entity. This year’s Mineral Expo continues to uphold the guiding principles of “pooling global resources, building an international brand, expanding exchanges and cooperation, and promoting scientific civilization.” With the theme “Year of Mineral Crystal Origins,” the expo will feature high-quality minerals sourced from renowned mineral crystal-producing regions around the world. Key activities include hosting an International Mineral Summit Forum, conducting mining science popularization events, and establishing sister-city relationships with international partners. By creating a prestigious international mineral and gem exhibition, setting up an online e-commerce platform for minerals and gems, and developing specialized industrial parks for minerals and gems, the expo aims to drive the transformation, upgrading, and scientific development of the mineral and gem industry, thereby fully showcasing Chenzhou’s unique appeal as the “World Museum of Nonferrous Metals” and the “Mineral Crystal Capital of China.”

　　During the Mineral Expo, major events such as the International Mineral Summit Forum will be held, focusing on topics including mineral gems and human civilization, mineral fossils and daily life, and the integration of mineral gems with the internet. At that time, we will invite prominent political figures and celebrities from home and abroad, top collectors, leading scientists and industry leaders, museum representatives, and internationally renowned exhibitors to jointly share and exchange the latest achievements, cutting-edge technologies, and newly discovered mineral species in the field of mineral gems. We will also organize a series of lectures on mineral gem and fossil appreciation, collecting, and photography, as well as on Chenzhou’s mineral crystals and mining knowledge, thereby promoting global exchanges in resources, science, and culture and driving the sustainable development of the industry. Meanwhile, to highlight the distinctive feature of this year’s Expo—the fact that it is “held right at the mine entrance”—we are committed to creating an Expo that is both experiential and interactive. During the conference, five scientific expedition routes will be arranged, taking participants to Shizhuyuan Mining Park, Feitian Mountain Geological Park, Dongjiang Lake, Mangshan Forest Park, and Rucheng Hot Spring, where they can engage in hands-on geological and mining field studies. In addition, we will launch the “Real-Life Adventure Show—Mining Experience Treasure Hunt,” an event that combines education, fun, and challenge.

　　This year’s Mineral Expo will adopt an operational model characterized by specialization, high quality, internationalization, professionalism, and market orientation, with a strong focus on developing the following six distinctive highlights. First, we will establish an international e-commerce platform for minerals and gemstones. By launching an international business trading platform for minerals and gemstones, we will encourage mining enterprises and mineral and gemstone markets to leverage modern information technologies such as cloud computing, big data, the internet, and the Internet of Things to innovate sales and trading methods, and actively foster the development of e-commerce-based economies. Second, we will build a world-class international electronic testing center for minerals and gemstones. Upholding the principle of “genuine and high-quality products,” this year’s Mineral Expo will strive to create a strong brand effect for minerals and gemstones. By attracting top talent and advanced equipment, we will establish a national-level testing center for minerals and gemstones, rigorously controlling the quality of exhibited specimens and firmly preventing counterfeit and substandard products from entering the exhibition halls. This will help standardize exhibition procedures and foster an atmosphere of integrity and trustworthiness among exhibitors. Third, we will cultivate specialized markets for minerals and gemstones. The Shizhuyuan Mine in Chenzhou has earmarked nearly 300 acres of land for the construction of a mineral and gemstone market. The municipal government plans to gradually develop a ten-mile-long commercial street as a dedicated venue for mineral and gemstone trading, aiming to transform it into a nationally and even globally renowned hub for mineral and gemstone transactions. Fourth, we will build an international mineral and gemstone industrial park. To expand the mineral and gemstone market and ensure that the Mineral Expo becomes an ongoing event, with the approval of the Hunan Provincial Government, a 3-square-kilometer mineral and gemstone industrial park is being established in the Chenzhou High-tech Industrial Zone. This park will integrate government, industry, academia, research, and trade into a single, comprehensive system, fostering cluster development across production, processing, and trade sectors. At this year’s Mineral Expo, the Chenzhou Municipal Government signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Zhengwei International Group, while Zhengwei Group also signed entry agreements with several other companies. Fifth, we will promote the internationalization of mineral and gemstone cooperation. During the Mineral Expo, Chenzhou will use minerals and gemstones as a bridge to forge sister-city relationships with internationally renowned mining cities—Tucson in the United States and Kimberley in South Africa—thereby achieving complementary and integrated development of the mining economy and enhancing the global influence of the Mineral Expo. Sixth, we will highlight a selection of world-class, national treasure-level mineral specimens. By actively inviting a number of national treasure-level mineral exhibits and rare private collections to participate in the expo—such as the 26-ton natural copper crystal, the flagship exhibit of the American Fashion Minerals Museum—we will continuously elevate the quality and impact of the Mineral Expo.