Strengthen cooperation and exchanges, and jointly discuss plans for development. From April 25 to 27, the 2017 China Non-Metallic Mineral Industry Conference and the 2017 Annual Meeting of the China Non-Metallic Mineral Industry Association were held in Hangzhou, marking the full-scale launch of China’s tough battle to transform and upgrade its non-metallic mineral industry.

China is a major country in terms of non-metallic mineral resources. Over the past decade, China’s non-metallic mineral industry has experienced relatively rapid development, and the development of functional mineral materials industries has increasingly attracted attention. Non-metallic mining has demonstrated significant importance in both national economic and social development. However, currently, the shortcomings in China’s non-metallic mineral industry remain quite prominent, and there is still a noticeable gap between China’s current situation and its goal of becoming a global powerhouse in non-metallic minerals. Therefore, it has become an urgent priority to implement an innovation-driven strategy and elevate the development level of the non-metallic mineral industry.

Where lie the development trends and opportunities for China’s non-metallic mineral industry in 2017? In the context of supply-side structural reform within the industry, how can the non-metallic mineral industry “reduce overcapacity, address shortcomings, and enhance efficiency”? Centered around these key industry issues, Pan Donghui, newly elected President of the China Non-Metallic Mineral Industry Association; Wang Wenli, Vice President and Secretary-General; Zhang Yongjun from the China International Economic Research Center; Zhang Ming from Suzhou Non-Metallic Mineral Industry Design Institute Co., Ltd.; and Tan Qi from the Zhengzhou Institute of Mineral Resources Comprehensive Research, China Geological Survey, each delivered keynote speeches on topics including: “New Global Trends in Future Technological Development and Pathways and Policy Support for the Transformation and Upgrading of China’s Non-Metallic Mineral Industry”; “Analysis of the Operational Status of China’s Non-Metallic Mineral Industry and Key Priorities and Directions for Industry Work”; “Analysis of the Macroeconomic Situation and Trends in Prices of Production Materials”; “Development Trends and Countermeasures for Technological Innovation in China’s Non-Metallic Mineral Industry”; and “Current Status of the Development of Non-Metallic Mineral Materials.”

Qiao Delong, President of the China Building Materials Federation, stated that China’s non-metallic mineral industry is currently at a critical crossroads of transformation. It is essential to clearly define the strategic national resource status of non-metallic minerals, orient efforts toward market demand, implement an innovation-driven strategy, intensify research and development in equipment, rely on new technologies, new processes, and new policies, strengthen cross-sectoral integration, develop high-end products, cultivate industry leaders, build a new industrial system for non-metallic minerals, and win the tough battle of transforming and upgrading the non-metallic mineral industry.

The conference also featured demonstrations and exchanges of new technologies, new products, new achievements, and new equipment in the non-metallic mineral industry. Additionally, the China Non-Metallic Mineral Industry Association released its 2016 work achievements and outlined its key priorities for 2017. The conference was organized by the China Non-Metallic Mineral Industry Association, and was attended by over 200 representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as well as from non-metallic mineral mining companies and equipment manufacturers. □