Through WeChat briefings, symposiums for digestion and discussion, and careful planning for in-depth implementation, the Department of Geological Exploration under the Ministry of Natural Resources has recently been actively studying and implementing the spirit of the National Conference on Natural Resources and Land Development. Focusing on such topics as the dialectical relationship between “seeking progress while maintaining stability” and the essential meaning of supply-side structural reform, the department has re-examined this year’s geological exploration work and further clarified its strategic direction. On January 16, Wang Kun, Director of the Department of Geological Exploration, shared with reporters his thoughts on how to further enhance national geological exploration management by adhering to the principle of seeking progress within stability.

　　Firmly grasp the principle of "seeking progress while maintaining stability," and in the third phase, the mineral exploration breakthrough strategic initiative will focus on "deep, precise, and green."

　　“We’re no strangers to the concept of ‘seeking progress while maintaining stability.’ Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, every Central Economic Work Conference has emphasized the overarching principle of ‘seeking progress while maintaining stability.’ At the Central Politburo meeting and the Central Economic Work Conference held last December, this principle was elevated to a key guiding principle for our governance and administration, and it was underscored as the ‘methodological approach for doing well in economic work.’ Through Minister Jiang Daming’s speech at this National Conference on Land and Resources, we’ve gained an even deeper understanding of the directional role that ‘seeking progress while maintaining stability’ plays in land and resource management and geological exploration,” said Wang Kun.

　　Speaking of Minister Jiang Daming’s speech, Wang Kun was most deeply moved by the themes of “responsibility and commitment.” He said that this year’s work report continues seamlessly with previous reports, consistently reflecting the Party’s deep affection for the Party itself and its close connection with the people. It always remains firmly oriented toward addressing specific problems, responding to public concerns, and coming up with practical solutions to tackle tough challenges. The report explicitly states that the Ministry of Natural Resources is the “principal agency responsible for ensuring the security of the nation’s mineral resources” and that “we must always treat enhancing the nation’s capacity for independent energy and resource security as a strategic task.” This clearly demonstrates the Party group of the Ministry’s strong sense of responsibility and spirit of commitment.

　　This year is designated by the Ministry of Natural Resources as the “Year of Responsibility Implementation.” The national goals for geological exploration and management are extremely clear, and the tasks ahead are substantial. It is crucial to strike a balance between stability and progress in implementation and to focus on strengthening our capacity for independent resource security.

　　He believes that, in terms of achieving breakthroughs in mineral exploration, we must adhere to the principle of "five stabilities and five advancements." From a macro perspective, we must firmly safeguard the bottom line of resource security and actively promote deep exploration and detailed investigation, green exploration, comprehensive exploration, and reserve exploration. From a structural perspective, we must stabilize our advantageous mineral resources while focusing intensively on scarce minerals, clean energy sources, and emerging minerals. From a spatial perspective, we should avoid natural reserves and step up mineral exploration activities outside ecological redlines. From the perspective of financial investment, we must stabilize both national and local fiscal investments and, by broadening our thinking and innovating mechanisms, better mobilize the enthusiasm of social capital. From a long-term development perspective, we must maintain geological work primarily focused on addressing resource issues, while at the same time vigorously expanding geological work aimed at tackling environmental challenges—such as urban, agricultural, tourism, environmental, ecological, and marine geology—to achieve a transformative upgrade of geological work.

　　Strengthen supply-side reform and promote the coordinated advancement of systems and mechanisms for oil and gas resource exploration and exploitation.

　　Promoting supply-side structural reform is a major innovation that aligns with the new normal of economic development and will serve as the main thread for economic work in the current and coming periods. The ultimate goal of supply-side structural reform is to meet demand; its primary focus is on improving the quality of supply, and its fundamental approach is to deepen reform. Land and resource management plays an important role at the supply side and thus assumes a significant part in advancing supply-side structural reform.

　　Wang Kun said that the speech specifically addressed deepening reform of the oil and gas exploration and production system, emphasizing the need to step up coordinated efforts in piloting oil and gas exploration in Xinjiang, competitive bidding for shale gas exploration in Guizhou, and pilot programs for coalbed methane exploration in Shanxi. “This is also a key focus of this year’s national geological exploration management work.”

　　According to reports, this year the Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to implement the central government’s major plan to accelerate the energy production and consumption revolution, leveraging the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, strengthening guidance and regulation, and actively and steadily advancing reforms to the systems and mechanisms for exploration and development of oil and gas resources.

　　Regarding the pilot program for reforming oil and gas exploration and development in Xinjiang, we will soon launch the second round of public bidding for oil and gas blocks, encourage joint ventures and cooperation between local and national oil companies, accelerate oil and gas exploration and development, and promptly summarize our bidding experience while studying a competitive bidding system for oil and gas resources.

　　While advancing the construction of demonstration bases and pilot zones for shale gas exploration and development, we will also ensure the successful competitive bidding for shale gas exploration blocks in Zhen’an, Guizhou. Additionally, we will identify and select a batch of further shale gas exploration blocks in other regions, laying a solid foundation for subsequent pilot reforms of the oil and gas exploration and development system and accelerating the exploration and development of shale gas.

　　In the Shanxi coalbed methane pilot program, a smooth coordination mechanism between the provincial and ministerial levels has been established to further harness local initiative. By working in synergy with the provincial government and the Shanxi Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Planning, we are supporting the implementation of a series of highly valuable policies, stimulating market vitality, and focusing on exploring the establishment of demonstration zones for coalbed methane exploration and development.

　　“To advance the reform of oil and gas resource exploration and development, we must strike a balance among four 'stabilities' and four 'advancements.' First, we must maintain stability in ensuring energy supply security while making progress in breaking monopolies and opening up markets. Second, we must maintain stability in keeping the market healthy and orderly, while making progress in promoting scientific market access, fostering competitive bidding, and allowing the market to play its decisive role in resource allocation. Third, we must maintain stability in adhering to the leading role of large state-owned oil and gas companies, while making progress in encouraging participation by various economic entities. Fourth, we must maintain stability in upholding central-level management of oil and gas resources, while strengthening coordination between the central government and provincial authorities and fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of local regions,” said Wang Kun.

　　Focusing on new societal needs and expanding the scope of geological exploration services around areas such as new-type urbanization.

　　Currently, traditional geological exploration is undergoing a transformative shift—from prioritizing resources alone to placing equal emphasis on both resources and the environment. “This is an historical inevitability driven by the nation’s high-level attention to ecological civilization construction in its economic and social development,” said Wang Kun. He noted that most geological exploration institutions are still in the process of deepening reform, and different regions have chosen vastly different paths based on their own specific circumstances. Yet there is one thing they all have in common: to achieve sustainable development, they must avoid complacency and stagnation; instead, they must re-plan according to the new demands of the national society, proactively offer services, and expand their scope for growth.

　　One of the key priorities is to strengthen urban geological work.

　　In Minister Jiang Daming’s speech, we can clearly find the following statement: We must leverage the advantages of geological exploration, focus on the needs of new-type urbanization for the development and utilization of urban underground space, develop high-precision detection technologies for underground spaces, progressively carry out three-dimensional surveys of underground spaces and demonstration projects for urban underground space utilization, scientifically assess the resource potential and development prospects of urban underground spaces, accelerate the detailed mapping of urban underground three-dimensional geological structures, and promote the three-dimensional development of cities as well as the safe utilization of underground spaces.

　　The development of underground space is just one important aspect of new-type urbanization. Wang Kun believes that the scope of urban geology should be broadened further—for instance, by accelerating the development of highly intelligent geological resource carrying capacity, speeding up comprehensive assessments of geological conditions with high precision and adaptability, enhancing the reliability of renewable energy supply for urban energy needs, deepening the integration of geological work with other industries, and improving the convenience with which the general public can share geological findings.

　　“The core of urban geology lies in identifying the major geological challenges facing urban development and conducting strategic research. It provides foundational scientific and data support for the scientific planning and construction of towns and cities, as well as for delivering public goods and public services that meet residents’ needs, thereby addressing the most pressing geological and environmental issues.”

　　“Urbanization is an inevitable path to modernization and represents China’s greatest potential for domestic demand and driving force for development. With roughly 300 prefecture-level cities in China, the demand this will create for our geological exploration units will be truly enormous!” said Wang Kun.

　　As demand shifts, supply naturally has to adapt accordingly. He believes that currently, the nation’s economic and social development is seeing a rapid increase in demand for clean energy, new energy sources, strategic emerging minerals, and geological disaster prevention and control. Moreover, demand for geological services in sectors such as agriculture, urban development, tourism, environment, marine resources, and military applications continues to rise. This poses many new challenges and requirements for accelerating the restructuring of geological survey institutions and expanding the scope of geological services. “The reform and development of geological exploration units must, while ensuring the stability of their core mineral exploration capabilities, closely follow society’s evolving needs by shifting mindsets, optimizing structures, expanding markets, and taking swift action. Only then can these units fully reap the benefits of the government’s reform initiatives.”

　　“Whether it’s the strategic initiative to achieve breakthroughs in mineral exploration, the reform of the oil and gas exploration and development system, the reform of the mineral rights transfer system, the reform of the natural resource management system, or the implementation of the ‘Three Deep and One Soil’ science and technology innovation strategy—each of these efforts requires us to uphold the overarching principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability. They also call for close cooperation among governments at all levels, industry associations, geological survey institutions, and mining enterprises. By taking a broad view of the bigger picture and fulfilling our respective responsibilities, we bear a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. The only way forward is through earnest, practical action and steady progress,” Wang Kun told reporters.