The China Minmetals Science and Technology Innovation Conference, the China Minmetals Central Research Institute Academic Annual Meeting, and the Strategic Seminar on the Efficient and Green Recycling of Lithium Resources were held in Beijing on January 11. Chen Dexin, Party Group Secretary and Chairman of China Minmetals, and Wang Xiaoliang, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Science and Technology Innovation of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), and Ge Honglin, President of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, and Zhang Xiaogang, President of the Chinese Society for Metals; and Jiang Wei, Vice President of the China Iron and Steel Association, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Officials from the Department of Science, Technology, and Finance of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the China Agenda 21 Management Center also attended the meeting. Zhu Kebing, Party Group Member and Senior Vice President of China Minmetals, presided over the meeting. Members of the China Minmetals leadership team were present as well.

The conference, themed “Technology-Driven Leadership, Innovation Empowerment, and Integrated Development,” aimed to thoroughly implement the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions on scientific and technological innovation, as well as the requirements outlined at the Central State-owned Enterprises Technological Innovation Conference. It brought together academicians, renowned experts, universities, research institutions, and enterprises from various sectors to establish a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration, where they would jointly explore the trends, challenges, and future opportunities in technological innovation within the mineral resources sector.

In his welcoming address, Chen Dexin emphasized that as a central SOE, China Minmetals served as an integral part of the nation's strategic scientific and technological strength. It must take the lead and set an example in advancing high-level technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, building a modern industrial system, and developing new types of productive forces. It must align its efforts with national needs, industry priorities, and its own capabilities, focusing on the “five focuses” to accelerate the integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation.

Wang Xiaoliang, Ge Honglin, Zhang Xiaogang, and Jiang Wei extended their congratulations on the successful opening of the conference in their welcoming addresses. They emphasized the importance of leveraging the advantages of the new nationwide system and working together to create a new engine for innovation-driven development.

Before the conference, attendees visited the First Technology Industry Achievements Exhibition of China Minmetals. The exhibition showcased China Minmetals’ most advanced and representative technological achievements in its core business areas. It covered over 30 major technological innovations across the entire industry chain, including exploration, mining, beneficiation, smelting, advanced materials, metallurgical construction, energy conservation and environmental protection, and digitalization and intelligence. More than 100 exhibits were displayed.

The conference released a promotional video for the National Strategic Rare Metal Mineral Resources Efficient Development Technology Innovation Center. A signing ceremony for the cooperation agreement with the center’s co-construction units was held, and the list of academicians and experts for the Technology Committee was announced, and appointment letters were presented to the committee members, marking the official launch of the construction of the Center.

The conference released 20 major technological innovation achievements and 13 key research task requirements for open competition from China Minmetals via video. Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Sun Chuanyao and Zheng Mianping, along with China Minmetals’ Chief Scientist Yan Dazhou, delivered keynote speeches. The conference also hosted a roundtable strategic discussion, a specialized forum on the efficient and green recycling of lithium resources, and sub-forums in four key areas: mineral resource exploration and development, green and low-carbon steel metallurgy, clean non-ferrous metal smelting and advanced materials, and digital mining metallurgy and digital technologies.

Over 300 participants attended the event, including personnel from relevant departments and subsidiaries of China Minmetals, multiple central and local state-owned enterprises, universities, research institutions, and private enterprises.