On the morning of September 10, Jiang Hui, President of CCCMC, released the Self-Discipline Initiative for Sustainable Development of Overseas Mineral Resources Cooperation at the Green Minerals International Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange during the 2026 China Mining Conference and Exhibition.
The Initiative was jointly initiated by CCCMC, together with the China Mining Association, the China Iron and Steel Association, and nearly 30 companies in the industry. It aims to promote the formation of industry codes of conduct commonly observed by all parties in overseas cooperation in China’s mineral supply chain. In the afternoon, Li Chenggang, China International Trade Representative (Ministerial Level) and Vice Minister of Commerce, attended the opening ceremony of the conference and delivered a speech. He noted that the Initiative is of great significance in guiding mining companies to put the concept of green and sustainable development into practice.
Mineral resources are an important material foundation for economic and social development, and green and sustainable development has become a key direction for global mining cooperation. In recent years, Chinese companies in the mineral supply chain have continued to expand the breadth and depth of their participation in international investment and cooperation, and their overseas business scenarios have become more diverse, covering multiple issues such as legal compliance, market competition, employee and community relations, supply chain management, and the ecological environment. In the face of differences in legal systems, market environments, and social and cultural contexts across different countries and regions, companies need not only to improve their own business management capabilities but also to strengthen coordination through common industry rules, so as to foster a more standardized and orderly overseas business environment.
Grounded in the realities of Chinese enterprises’ overseas operations, the Initiative is formulated in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and policy requirements governing China’s outbound investment and cooperation. It incorporates frameworks such as the International Economic and Trade Cooperation Initiative on Green Mining and Minerals and the Sustainable Mining Code, and draws on relevant international instruments of organizations and institutions such as the United Nations. The Initiative covers overseas investment and trade, exploration and development, smelting and processing, deep processing of metals, recycled mineral recovery, and suppliers and contractors in upstream and downstream cooperation. It promotes the further integration of sustainable development requirements into the entire process of investment decision-making, project construction, production and operation, and supply chain management.
The release of the Initiative is an important practice for China’s mineral supply chain industry to further strengthen self-discipline and governance and enhance its capacity for sustainable overseas operations. While improving the operational quality of overseas projects and risk prevention capabilities, it also responds more effectively to the concerns of resource countries and the international market regarding responsible mining development. The Initiative will also further enable industry organizations and enterprises to play a positive role in global governance of mineral resources, promote the establishment of more open, fair, stable, and sustainable cooperative relations in the mineral industrial and supply chains, and contribute China’s strength to deepening international economic and trade cooperation on green mining and minerals and promoting the sustainable development of global mining.
Attachment: Self-Discipline Initiative for Sustainable Development of Overseas Mineral Resources Cooperation
