Vice Premier He Lifeng Calls for Global Mining Supply Chain Stability

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng addressed the opening of the 2026 China International Mining Conference in Tianjin, emphasizing that international mining cooperation is essential to safeguarding global supply chains. Speaking at a ministerial forum, He stated that China respects other nations' mineral resource sovereignty while seeking deeper pragmatic collaboration. During an inspection tour of Tianjin, He also visited several innovation and trade zones, calling for accelerated development in financial leasing, cross-border e-commerce, and regional integration under the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei initiative.

Against the backdrop of intensifying global competition over critical minerals and ongoing supply chain realignments, Beijing's explicit reaffirmation of national resource sovereignty serves as a reassuring signal to resource-rich partners. Domestically, the high-level inspection highlights Tianjin's targeted role as a specialized hub for trade services like financial leasing and bonded logistics.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng called for deeper international mining partnerships and the protection of global industrial supply chains during the opening ceremony of the 2026 China International Mining Conference and the Mining International Cooperation Ministerial Forum in Tianjin, state media reported. According to an official Xinhua report, He framed cross-border mining cooperation as a practical necessity for maintaining resilient global industrial and supply chains while enabling countries to leverage complementary resource advantages. He emphasized that China fully respects the mineral resource sovereignty of other nations and supports their right to independently choose resource development and industrial pathways suited to their domestic conditions. China, he added, seeks all-around pragmatic cooperation aimed at shared, sustainable mining growth. Addressing attendees, He noted that under the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has actively implemented major global initiatives to explore high-quality development paths in the mining sector. He stressed that mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutually beneficial cooperation have defined Beijing's resource relationships with international partners to date. Prior to the opening ceremony, He conducted an inspection of the accompanying mining machinery and equipment exhibition hall. During his time in Tianjin, He also conducted on-site inspections of major economic development hubs, including the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, the Tianjin Binhai-Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, national-level economic and technological development zones, and comprehensive bonded zones. He instructed officials to deepen the implementation of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy, capitalize on the municipality's policy and geographical advantages, and accelerate urban renewal efforts. He specifically directed local authorities to upgrade open platforms and provide policy support for emerging trade and commercial models, such as cross-border e-commerce, financial leasing, and modern logistics and warehousing. These initiatives, he noted, should bolster high-level opening-up and advance high-quality economic development across the northern port hub.