Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Wang. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the news outlet you represent before raising your questions.

CCTV:

Mineral resources are the important material foundation for socio-economic development. The construction of modern industrial systems is also inseparable from the efficient utilization and development of mineral resources. What arrangements and considerations will the ministry make to further promote exploitation and development, and increase the reserve and production volumes of the country's key energy sources and mineral resources? Thank you.

Wang Guanghua:

This is a question of significant importance and represents an important task that our ministry is currently working on and will continue to focus on. I briefly answered this question during a "minister's passage" interview at this year's Two Sessions. However, we have made new progress after six months of effort. To further implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on ensuring national energy and resource security, we have worked with relevant departments to promote the exploitation and development of key energy and mineral resources and boost the reserve and production volumes of those resources. We have meticulously organized and conducted another round of strategic actions in mineral prospecting. These actions are in accordance with the principles of consolidating foundational work, prospering the mining market, and enhancing scientific and technological support. I will elaborate on these three aspects.

Above all, we have strengthened our major foundational work.

First, we conducted national mineral resource surveys, researching all 163 kinds of mineral resources with confirmed reserves in more than 45,000 mining areas across the country. Therefore, we have obtained a comprehensive picture of the quantity, quality, structure, spatial distribution, development, and utilization of various mineral resources in China. Second, we have strengthened the basic geological survey of mineral resources by designating basic research areas and key research areas. This will intensify our efforts in mineral resources research. We have also designated key prospecting and deep mining areas. In these regions, we conduct ore prediction and locate ore bodies, aiming to extend the reach of our mine prospecting work and eliminate all "blind spots" throughout the process. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we have initially designated 124 areas of high prospecting potential and submitted 102 target areas for prospecting. We have also provided guidelines for commercial exploration work with social funds.

Second, the MNR has enhanced policy support for mineral prospecting and exploration.

To begin with, the MNR has improved the system for managing the collection of proceeds from mining rights transfers. In contrast to the previous methods of collecting proceeds in a one-time payment, the new system mandates annual collection based on sales revenue generated from mineral production. This can safeguard the rights and interests of state mineral resource owners and effectively alleviate the burden on enterprises.

The MNR has also improved the registration and management process for the prospecting and exploration of mineral resources. The MNR encourages the adoption of comprehensive mineral prospecting methods. It has revitalized the secondary market for prospecting rights, removing restrictions on the transfer period of prospecting rights obtained through bidding, auction and listing. The MNR now allows the transfer of prospecting rights. It also simplified the application requirements and approval procedures for mining rights registration and improved the efficiency of the approval process.

The MNR has continued reforms in the management of mineral resources. It allows the transfer of resource mining rights of coal seam fissure resources and deep mineral resources to the same subject by agreement. The MNR has adjusted the proportion of mining area deductions during the renewal registration process for prospecting rights. It also introduced a detailed arrangement of the unified system of oil and natural gas prospecting and exploration, extended the retention period of prospecting rights, and improved the mechanism for the competitive transfer of mining rights. These measures have facilitated the prospecting and exploration of mineral resources.

Third, the MNR has strengthened its sci-tech support.

A group of new technologies and methods have been innovatively developed and applied for demonstration purposes. The MNR promoted the implementation of major sci-tech projects and key national plans for research and development (R&D). It also set up a dedicated category for geophysical prospecting within the natural resource science and technology awards, intending to boost the enthusiasm of geological exploration teams.

Going forward, we will collaborate with related government departments to continuously improve related policies. We will also create an enabling environment for all kinds of private actors to invest in the exploration and development of mineral resources. For instance, the MNR has issued directions to local governments on the transfer of "net mining rights ." By improving the preliminary preparatory work for the transfer of mining rights, the MNR helps local governments enhance service efficiency and better ensure the utilization of land, forest, grassland and other factors of production. The MNR also has expedited major mining programs' approval procedures to boost domestic demand, stabilize growth, and facilitate a new round of prospecting campaigns with effective measures.