Seeking new development under the new normal; exploring new paths with fresh thinking.
2015 China Prospecting Conference: Facing Challenges, Accelerating Reform
The 2015 China Prospector Annual Conference, themed “Innovative Development under the New Normal,” and the 9th Symposium of Hundred Geological Team Leaders were held in Hefei, Anhui Province, from May 28 to 29. Nearly 800 representatives from geological exploration units, mining enterprises, financial institutions, and research institutes across the country attended the conference to discuss the development direction of China’s mining and geological exploration industries under the new normal, analyze the current status of production capacity in the geological exploration sector, and explore new approaches for the reform and development of geological exploration teams.
The 2015 China Prospector Annual Conference and the 9th Symposium of Hundred Geological Team Leaders were held in Hefei, Anhui Province from May 28 to 29.
The photo shows the conference venue.
Comrade Zhu Xun, Secretary-General of the 8th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, former Minister of Geology and Mineral Resources, and Director of the Senior Advisory Committee of the China Mining Association, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
The opening ceremony of the conference was chaired by Wang Yan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the China Geological Survey, as well as Part-time Vice President of the China Mining Association and President of the Geological Exploration Association. The conference also specially invited former directors of geological and mining bureaus from nearly 10 provinces and cities, including Heilongjiang and Jilin, along with other veteran geologists. Wang Jiahua, Executive Vice President of the China Mining Association, and Xiao Peng, Director at CITIC Securities Co., Ltd., delivered keynote speeches titled “Facing Five Major Challenges and Accelerating Reform and Innovation” and “Understanding the New Third Board and Seizing New Opportunities,” respectively.
Wang Jiahua stated that field investigations revealed several prominent issues currently facing the national geological exploration industry: the mineral exploration market has contracted sharply, and financing for mineral exploration has become severely challenging, impacting to varying degrees the second-phase breakthroughs in mineral discovery; under the “new normal,” the industry is confused about how to tap into new exploration markets, and the downward trend in geological exploration economics shows no sign of abating; the current mixed operational model—combining government agencies and enterprises within the geological exploration sector—is reaching its limits, making it imperative to further deepen reform within geological exploration units; self-regulation within the geological exploration industry urgently needs to be strengthened, and addressing the legal framework for exploration activities remains a pressing challenge; finally, the real economy of geological exploration is lagging behind in its transformation and upgrading, necessitating the activation of new sources of momentum.
“These five major challenges have truly and concretely come before us,” said Wang Jiahua. How should we view the current situation? How can we adapt to the new normal? And how can we foster innovative development and cultivate a new type of geological exploration economy? These questions fill this year’s Prospector Conference with anticipation.
This conference held interviews and forums on five key topics: “Opening Up New Markets for Ecological Civilization Construction,” “Building China’s Capital Market for Risk Exploration,” “Reform and Development of Geological Exploration Units,” “Implementing the National ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative,” and “Implementing the ‘Internet Plus’ Development Strategy.” More than 20 guests, including Wen Dongguang, Director of the Department of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology at the China Geological Survey; Li Congwen, Party Secretary and Director of the Anhui Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources; and Song Xiaomei, Vice Chairperson of Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co., Ltd., delivered speeches.
The conference read out and adopted the “Self-Discipline Declaration for the Geological Exploration Industry” and the “Proposal for Improving the External Environment for Geological Exploration Work.” Meanwhile, dozens of enterprises demonstrated new technologies, new methods, and new equipment for geological prospecting. The conference also hosted matchmaking sessions aimed at connecting exploration project technology with capital. A number of geological exploration institutions, mining enterprises, and financial institutions engaged in in-depth collaboration around the integrated concept of resources, assets, and capital, joining forces and reaching cooperation agreements and intentions.
Jiang Qingde, Chairman of Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co., Ltd., the organizing entity, delivered a speech at the conference. This Chinese-funded enterprise, which has ventured into Africa, has achieved remarkable results in mineral exploration and development and has forged deep friendships with the people of African mineral-rich countries, leaving a profound impression on the attendees.
Pan Haibin, Deputy Director of the Anhui Provincial Department of Natural Resources and国土资源, delivered a speech. He stated that intensifying geological exploration efforts, developing the mining industry, and boosting the mining economy are crucial for China’s sustainable development and hold significant practical importance.
The conference is organized by the China Mining Association and co-organized by multiple entities including the Anhui Provincial Bureau of Geological and Mineral Exploration, the China Mining News, the Geological Exploration Branch of the China Mining Association, and the Geology and Mining Equipment Branch of the China Mining Association. It is hosted by Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co., Ltd.
At the invitation of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Yu Haifeng, Deputy Director of the Geological Exploration Department and Executive Deputy Director of the Office for Mineral Exploration under the Strategic Action for Breakthroughs in Mineral Exploration, attended the meeting. Also attending were Guo Zhenxi and Cui Dewen, Deputy Directors of the Senior Advisory Committee of the China Mining Association; Fu Mingke, a member of the Senior Advisory Committee of the China Mining Association; Chen Xianda, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Mining Association; Xu Tianyou, Vice President of the China Mining Association; Liu Yuqiang, Vice President and Chief Engineer of the China Mining Association; and Lu Jin, Executive Chairman of the Geological Exploration Association of the China Mining Association, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the China Metallurgical Geology Bureau.
Xie Guogang, Deputy Director of the Mineral Exploration Technology Guidance Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Wang Quanling, Deputy Director of the Central Geological Exploration Fund Management Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and responsible officials from relevant departments and directly affiliated units of the Ministry of Natural Resources also attended the meeting.
Forty-eight institutions from geological and mining bureaus, metallurgical centers, non-ferrous metal enterprises, coal companies, nuclear industry organizations, and other sectors across the country, along with 12 industry associations and federations, 119 various geological survey teams and research institutes, nearly 70 mining enterprises and related intermediary service agencies, and nearly 50 exhibitors specializing in new-generation equipment participated in this conference.
More than 10 central media outlets and websites, including the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, China National Radio, Guangming Daily, Xinhua Net, and China.org.cn, will cover this conference. China Mining Network and China Mining News Online will provide special live broadcasts and comprehensive coverage of the conference.