According to a report by Liang Xijun, a journalist for China Development Network, over the past 30-plus years since the reform and opening-up policy was launched, China’s metal and non-metal mining production and scale have grown from small to large, while its technology, efficiency, and overall strength have steadily strengthened. These developments have made significant contributions to the safe and stable development of China’s mining industry and have strongly supported the country’s modernization efforts. China is now on its way to becoming a global mining powerhouse. Currently, China has built more than 100,000 mines of various types, with annual mineral production capacity increasing from 2 billion tons to around 10 billion tons. Coal production has risen from 715 million tons in 1983 to 3.874 billion tons in 2014; iron ore production has climbed from 113 million tons to 1.07 billion tons; phosphate rock and pyrite production have surged from 11.64 million tons and 7.36 million tons, respectively, to 120 million tons and 17.39 million tons; the output of six non-ferrous metals—copper, lead, zinc, nickel, tin, and antimony—has increased from 750,000 tons to 10.64 million tons. Moreover, the nuclear industry, gold industry, and production of other non-metallic minerals have all experienced rapid growth. These detailed figures were reported by a journalist from China Economic Herald at the “10th National Mining Academic Conference” held on September 9. China has truly become a major mining power.

On September 9, the "10th National Mining Academic Conference," themed "Green Development, Scientific Utilization, and Innovative Development," was grandly held in Ordos City—the beautiful "Holy Land of Tianjiao." The conference attracted a total of 11 academicians from both the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including Xie Kechang, Jin Yong, Pei Rongfu, Peng Suping, Liu Jiongtian, Cai Meifeng, Wang An, Zhang Yuzhuo—academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering—and Song Zhenqi, He Manchao, and Jin Zhijun—academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

　　It is understood that this conference is jointly organized by the China Coal Society, the Energy and Mining Engineering Division of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the China Metallurgical Society, the China Nonferrous Metals Society, the Chinese Chemical Society, the China Silicate Society, the China Mining Association, the China Gold Association, the China Nuclear Society, and the China Rock Mechanics and Engineering Society. The People's Government of Ordos City and Shenhua Group Co., Ltd. are co-organizers, while the China Association for Science and Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the State Administration of Work Safety, the National Coal Mine Safety Supervision Bureau, and the China Coal Industry Association provide support.

　　Shang Yong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Executive Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, as well as First Secretary of the Secretariat; Xie Kechang, Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology and Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Gui Laibao, Deputy Director of the National Coal Mine Safety Administration; Wang Bo, Vice Chairman of the People's Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; Niu Guangming, Vice Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Chairman of the Inner Mongolia Association for Science and Technology; Wang Ting, Vice Mayor of Ordos City; and heads of relevant government departments, academic societies, associations, and enterprises and institutions from across the country attended the conference. The industry showed a strong response to this conference, attracting more than 900 delegates from over 400 leading enterprises and institutions in sectors including coal, metals, building materials, chemicals, and the nuclear industry.

　　The National Mining Academic Conference is a major event for the mining technology community across China. This conference focuses on showcasing the latest achievements in China’s mining sector over recent years, including new technologies, innovative processes, and advanced equipment. The conference will facilitate academic exchanges centered on topics such as green, safe, and intelligent mining, ecological mine construction, manufacturing of mining machinery and equipment, internationalization, and mine informatization. It will also explore future demands and development trends in mining technology. This conference holds significant importance for implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on “implementing an innovation-driven development strategy,” promoting the energy revolution, advancing sustainable development in the mining industry, and facilitating China’s transition from a large mining country to a powerful mining nation.

　　It is understood that the “China Mining Academic Conference” (CMAC) was jointly initiated and organized in 1983 by five national academic societies: the Chinese Society for Metals, the Chinese Coal Society, the Chinese Chemical Society, the Chinese Silicate Society, and the Chinese Nuclear Society. Over time, additional organizations—including the Chinese Nonferrous Metals Society, the China Gold Association, the China Mining Industry Federation, the Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering, and the Energy and Mining Engineering Division of the Chinese Academy of Engineering—have joined as co-founders, making it now the premier academic conference in the mining field, with a total of ten participating institutions.

　　In his speech at the conference, Shang Yong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group, Executive Vice Chairman, and First Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), stated that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, CAST has earnestly implemented the major decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and rigorously carried out the new requirements set forth by the Central Committee for CAST’s work. Adhering to the working philosophy of putting service to science and technology workers first and taking the work of academic societies as the mainstay, CAST has steadily fulfilled its functional responsibilities of “three services and one strengthening,” faithfully practiced the “three strictnesses and three realities,” and actively supported the innovation-driven development strategy and the overall cause of comprehensively deepening reform. By focusing on key priorities and pursuing practical results, CAST has achieved remarkable outcomes in promoting economic transformation and upgrading, advancing comprehensive deepening reform, supporting scientific decision-making, enhancing the public’s scientific literacy, and attracting and cultivating talent. Furthermore, CAST has made new progress in areas such as academic exchanges, science popularization, talent recommendation, policy consultation, and organizational development. At present and in the period ahead, the academic societies affiliated with CAST are facing unprecedented development opportunities. Faced with this new situation, new opportunities, and new requirements, Shang Yong urged the nine participating societies to further clarify their development directions, deepen reform, strengthen their own capacity-building efforts, strive to enhance their service capabilities and standards, improve the quality of academic exchanges, and truly play a leading role in academic advancement.

　　Wang Xianzheng, Chairman of the China Coal Society, delivered the rotating chair’s keynote speech. He pointed out that mineral resources are a fundamental condition for human survival, an important material basis for national economic development, and an indispensable foundation for maintaining long-term social stability and prosperity in China. Over the past 30-plus years, guided by a series of policies and measures adopted by the Party and the government to promote the development of the mining industry, Chinese mining scientists and engineers have taken practical experience as their starting point, striven to reach new heights in mining technology, and significantly enriched and developed the theoretical foundations of mining engineering. They have made important breakthroughs in research areas such as the mechanisms of mineral deposit formation, patterns of mineral occurrence, exploration and development techniques, and clean utilization of mineral resources. Moreover, they have successfully developed a range of advanced mining technologies and equipment. In particular, since the start of the 11th Five-Year Plan, China’s mining sector has achieved remarkable accomplishments in resource exploration and evaluation, mine production and construction, and comprehensive resource utilization.

　　Wang Xianzheng said that after more than 30 years of development, the National Mining Academic Conference has become the most important platform for academic exchange and cooperation in China’s mining sector, playing a vitally important role in promoting the prosperous development of China’s mining industry. Under the new normal of economic development, both domestic and international environments are undergoing profound changes, and deep-seated contradictions that have been restraining the development of China’s mining industry are becoming increasingly apparent. Therefore, it is now even more urgent to transform the mode of mining development. Hence, the mining academic community needs to unite closely, seize opportunities, meet challenges head-on, and jointly promote the healthy and sustainable development of China’s mining industry.

　　Guests including Kang Yi, Chairman of the China Nonferrous Metals Society; Hong Jibi, Advisor to the China Metallurgical Society; Feng Xiating, Chairman of the China Rock Mechanics and Engineering Society; Yang Yuan’yi, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Chemical Society; and Zhang Yongtao, Vice President of the China Gold Association, each delivered remarks. Xie Kechang, Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, former Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; and Zhang Yuzhuo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Shenhua Group Co., Ltd. and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, each presented academic reports.

　　During the conference, the organizing body will host six thematic forums, including the “High-Level Forum on Energy and Mining Development,” as well as “Green, Safe, and Intelligent Mining,” “Mining Equipment Manufacturing 2025,” “The Belt and Road Initiative and the Internationalization of the Mining Industry,” “IoT and E-commerce in the Mining Sector,” and a “Roundtable Conference for Editors-in-Chief of Mining Academic Journals.” A total of 54 insightful academic presentations will be delivered by renowned experts from various fields, including 11 academicians from the Two Academies. Through discussions, summaries, and refinements conducted by the attending academicians, expert scholars, and engineering and technical personnel from the frontline of production and research, and following deliberations at the conference, the Ordos Consensus has been reached regarding the future direction of science and technology development in China.