President,

I welcome Secretary Chris Wright presiding over today’s meeting and thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing.

At present, the global energy transition is accelerating, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are flourishing, and demand for critical minerals and other resources continues to rise. As the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, imbalances in the supply and demand of energy, critical minerals, and other resources are becoming increasingly pronounced. The international community must enhance solidarity and cooperation to jointly foster stable and resilient resource supply and industrial chains, thereby supporting global economic growth. Allow me to make three points.

First, we must foster an enabling environment for safeguarding supply chain security. Rising global geopolitical tensions and conflicts in resource-rich regions such as the Middle East and Africa are disrupting the production and transportation of energy and critical minerals. China has consistently advocated that all parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, refrain from the use or threat of force in international relations, resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation, safeguard energy and critical minerals as well as other non-military targets, and ensure the safety and uninterrupted flow of shipping lanes. The situation in the Middle East is deeply concerning. China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, refrain from further escalating tensions, and prevent regional instability from adversely affecting the global economy. The international community must collectively support countries, particularly in Africa, in addressing persistent challenges such as mineral-induced instability, curbing the illegal smuggling and mining of critical minerals, and tackling the underlying drivers of armed conflicts.

Second, we must fully respect the sovereignty of all nations over their natural resources. In accordance with the principles of international law, each country exercises absolute sovereignty over the resources within its territory, and bears primary responsibility for the governance. Certain countries should abandon outdated colonialist thinking, fully respect the development paths and policy choices of other countries, and engage in business cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit. They must not, for self interest, seize resources from other countries through various means, even resorting to military force to exert pressure or coercion. The international community should support developing countries in fully leveraging their resource endowments to foster economic development and improve the well-being of their populations. Developing countries should not be permanently confined to the low end of industrial chains, and the current unfair and unreasonable arrangement must be addressed.

Third, we must consistently uphold openness, cooperation, and mutual benefit. The global distribution of energy and critical minerals is highly uneven, making mismatches between resource supply and industrial development demand inevitable. Countries should embrace the vision of building a community with a shared future for humankind, strengthen policy dialogue and industrial coordination, maintain a fair and transparent economic and trade order, establish inclusive and open supply chain systems, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation and peaceful utilization of resources. All countries, regardless of size or strength, have the right to participate equally in global mineral cooperation and rule-making. Certain countries must not overstate security concerns, politicize, or weaponize issues related to energy and critical minerals. They should refrain from adopting the Cold War mentality, fostering bloc confrontations, or creating exclusive, geopolitically motivated small circles. The formation and development of global industrial and supply chains are the outcomes of economic globalization and market forces with historical and objective foundations. Political manipulation or artificial intervention will only further disrupt global markets, undermine international cooperation, and ultimately be counterproductive for those who engage in such practices.

President,

China is the world’s largest producer, consumer, and trader of mineral products. It has consistently been committed to responsible mining, open trade, and mutually beneficial cooperation, playing a constructive and positive role in the supply of critical minerals. At the 20th G20 Leaders Summit, China proposed the International Economic and Trade Cooperation Initiative on Green Mining and Minerals, aimed at promoting the green transformation and sustainable development of the global mining sector and jointly safeguarding a stable, mutually beneficial, fair, and equitable global green mining production and supply chain. China welcomes all parties to actively participate in and support this Initiative.

China will continue to advance high-level opening up with unwavering determination, fully leverage its mineral reserves and technological strength, enhance dialogue and communication, foster complementarity with more countries, and build a closer network of cooperation, thereby making greater contributions to the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

I thank you, President.