Lao Government Delegation Visits Zijin Mining Again, Adding New Momentum to Cooperation on the Potash Project

       The delegation was led by Ms. Phanvanh Outhavong, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment of Lao PDR and Executive Vice Chair of the Investment Promotion and Management Committee. Its members included senior officials and professional representatives from several key institutions, including the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Economic, Technology and Financial Committee of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Finance, and the Vientiane Investment Promotion Committee. The high level and broad professional representation of the delegation highlighted the Lao government’s emphasis on the compliant and green advancement of the potash project, as well as its confidence in mining cooperation enterprises between China and Laos.

       The visit aimed to learn from Zijin Mining’s experience in mineral extraction, green processing, safety and environmental management, ESG governance, and sustainable development, while comprehensively assessing the technical feasibility and development potential of the Vientiane potash project to support its steady advancement. During the visit, the delegation toured Zijin Copper, the Zijinshan Gold and Copper Mine, and the Zijin Geological Museum, where they observed mining and production processes, underground backfilling operations, ecological restoration outcomes, and refined smelting and processing management. The delegation also held a dedicated meeting with Zijin Mining’s senior management, during which the two sides exchanged views on project implementation and approaches to mutually beneficial cooperation and reached broad consensus.

       Zijin Mining President Lin Hongfu met with the delegation in Xiamen and extended a warm welcome. He noted that Laos is a friendly neighbor of China and that the two countries share a longstanding friendship and close cooperation between their governments and peoples. He also expressed sincere appreciation for the continued support of the Lao government for Zijin Mining and for mining cooperation projects between China and Laos. He said that the delegation’s on-site visit would provide a more direct understanding of Zijin Mining’s development philosophy, technical capabilities, and environmental management practices.

       Lin Hongfu further emphasized two points. First, as one of China’s leading mining companies, Zijin Mining has become an important contributor to the advancement of the global mining industry. The Company has continued to strengthen its capabilities in mining technologies, equipment upgrades, environmental and safety standards, and green mine development, and currently ranks among the leading players in the global mining sector. Going forward, it will continue to place environmental protection, safe production, and shared development at the center of its operations, an approach that has received broad recognition from governments and communities in its project locations. Second, in advancing investment and construction in Laos, Zijin and Zangge will strictly apply high safety and environmental standards and work to build the project into a benchmark for safe, green and environmentally responsible mining development in Laos. Zijin’s approach to safety and environmental management, together with its extensive experience in mining development, will help address key challenges in project implementation, respond to the concerns of the Lao government and other stakeholders, and support coordinated progress in project development, environmental management and community benefits.

       The delegation spoke highly of Zijin Mining’s global industrial footprint, advanced technologies and equipment, stringent safety and environmental standards, well-established ESG governance framework, and its corporate philosophy of “developing mining for the benefit of society.” Vice Minister Phanvanh Outhavong noted that potash development is closely linked to social development and livelihood improvement and therefore attracts broad public attention, making this visit particularly meaningful. She also remarked that Zijin Mining’s practices and outcomes in safety and environmental management were especially impressive.

       She added that Laos is keen to attract high-quality investors with strong professional capabilities and a clear commitment to safety and environmental protection. In her view, Zijin Mining’s mature approach provides valuable reference for mining governance and project development in Laos, and she expressed the hope that Zijin’s advanced management concepts and technical practices could be introduced into Laos to help build a benchmark project for the country’s mining sector.