The 2019 China-ASEAN Mining Cooperation Forum & Exhibition opens in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Nov 14. [Photo by Song Yao/gxnews.com.cn]

In the next five years, China will provide ASEAN countries with 100 places to obtain master's degrees and doctoral degrees in geosciences, mining, testing, and other technical majors, as well as 500 short-term study and training places to improve geoscience capacity-building and technical level in ASEAN countries, according to Ling Yueming, undersecretary of Ministry of Natural Resources, at the opening ceremony of the 2019 China-ASEAN Mining Cooperation Forum & Exhibition, which kicked off in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Nov 14.

Ling noted that China plans to promote the open competition of mining rights, treat all kinds of market entities at home and abroad equally, protect the legal interests of mining rights holders, as well as set up incentive mechanisms for enterprises to develop mineral resources.

"We have eliminated foreign capital restrictions in special coal mining, graphite mining, rare earth smelting and separation, as well as tungsten smelting. We have cancelled the prohibition of foreign investment in the exploration and mining of molybdenum, tin, and antimony. We have also eliminated the regulations that oil and gas exploration and development are limited to joint ventures," Ling added.

Ling also suggested that China and ASEAN countries build a high-level mining partnership, such as advancing the construction of the China-ASEAN Geoscience Cooperation Center and strengthening the ASEAN mining information sharing platform, to further promote exchanges and integration in mining trade, capital, technology, and talents.

In addition, China will further expand the training, exchanges, and cooperation of young geoscience talents with ASEAN countries. China will train talents in the field of geosciences for ASEAN countries through China's well-known universities and the platform of China-ASEAN Geoscience Cooperation Center.