Guangxi, Saudi Arabia explore mining cooperation opportunities

A Guangxi-Saudi Arabia economic and trade exchange event took place in Nanning on Oct 29. As part of Guangxi's "Guangxi Embraces Five Continents" initiative (West Asia stop), the event focused on advancing collaboration in the mining sector.

A senior official from Guangxi's trade promotion agency emphasized the importance of this year, which marks the 35th anniversary of China-Saudi diplomatic ties, during which bilateral trade has grown fast.

She also outlined Guangxi's advantages as a major non-ferrous metal hub in China, with confirmed reserves of 132 mineral types and strong expertise in geological surveys, mineral development and manufacturing of mining machinery.

The official added that Guangxi's aluminum industry has become a 100-billion-yuan sector ($14 billion), now advancing deep processing.

It also broadens the aluminum industrial presence across regions and borders through mergers, acquisitions, and equity participation, aiming to build aluminum enterprises with national and even global influence.

A vice president of the Saudi Arabian Mining Company noted mining is a key industry for Saudi Arabia. His firm, a major contributor to the nation's mining growth, is involved in gold, phosphate, and aluminum exploration and smelting.

He conveyed enthusiasm for collaborating with Chinese firms to boost Saudi mining development, saying that China's digital and AI innovations could provide significant support.

Saudi delegates and Chinese mining enterprise representatives held in-depth discussions during the event.

They focused on cooperation in aluminum and various minerals,including mining, processing, smelting technologies, as well as investment and trade, expressing a strong commitment to work together.

"Guangxi Embraces Five Continents" has previously organized country-specific events in Uzbekistan and New Zealand to promote practical business cooperation.