On September 22, Chen Dexin, Chairman of China Minmetals, met with the visiting Leticia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The two sides held an in-depth exchange on the exploration and development of deep-sea mineral resources. Liu Yang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting.

Chen Dexin welcomed Leticia Reis de Carvalho and her delegation and expressed his gratitude to the ISA for the significant support and assistance it has long provided to China Minmetals. He also briefly introduced the development history of China Minmetals and the cooperation between the two sides. He said that China Minmetals, founded in 1950, is currently accelerating its efforts to build a world-class powerhouse with global competitiveness in the metals and minerals industry. The company possesses strong R&D capabilities in the metals and minerals sector and has achieved fruitful results. China Minmetals attaches great importance to ESG development and has always regarded the exploration and development of deep-sea mineral resources as a strategic measure to ensure global resource security and serve the sustainable development of humanity. Furthermore, the company strictly adheres to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and all regulations of the ISA, making continuous efforts in technological innovation, environmental protection practices, and international cooperation. It is hoped that the ISA will continue to provide more guidance and support to China Minmetals, so that both sides can work together to promote the sustainable development and utilization of deep-sea mineral resources.

Leticia Reis de Carvalho expressed her appreciation for the efforts made by China Minmetals in fulfilling its obligations as a contractor in the international seabed area, in the research and development of deep-sea mining technology, marine environmental protection, and the training of international trainees. She also conveyed her gratitude for the long-standing support and trust that China Minmetals has extended to the ISA. She noted that the ISA will further strengthen its exchanges and collaboration with China Minmetals and expressed her hope that the company will continue to contribute Chinese wisdom and practical experience to the formulation of relevant international rules, thereby jointly exploring new paths for the coordinated advancement of deep-sea resource exploration, development, and environmental protection.

Relevant personnel from the International Seabed Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as heads of relevant headquarters departments and directly-managed enterprises of China Minmetals, attended the meeting.