27 January 2018

Nikolić meets Executive Director and Managing Board Chairman at “Zijin”

President of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China Tomislav Nikolić led a Serbian Government delegation on a visit to “Zijin”, a company specialized in mining.

The Office of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China

In the talks with Chen Jinghe, the Chairman of the Managing Board and Executive Director at “Zijin”, Mr. Nikolić emphasized that the Government of Serbia was interested in collaboration with this Chinese company. “If “Zijin” privatizes the Mining and Smelting Combine “Bor”, I may freely say that this will be the largest mining investment within the “Belt and Road” initiative. The “Bor” combine privatization is the right opportunity for us to cement our friendship, which President Xi Jinping had said is made of steel”, Council President Nikolić underscored.

In the talks, Executive Director at “Zijin” Chen Jinghe said that “Zijin” was highly interested in privatizing “Bor”, adding that “Zijin” had the leading role in the “Belt and Road” initiative when it came to Chinese investments in the mining industry. “Zijin Mining” primarily runs its current investment projects in more than 20 provinces of China and 9 foreign countries including Russia, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Australia and South Africa. “The innovation-based approach is one of our company’s main business models. Furthermore, “Zijin” attaches huge importance to acting in a socially responsible manner: the company has thrice won the China Charity Award, and it created 23 000 jobs. The gold-copper mines at Mount Zijin comply with innovative concepts and have become business role models for Chinese mines, boasting highly efficient sustainable development and low costs, while aiming for zero death in workplace, zero occupational disease and zero environmental incident.

Owing to its business policy, “Zijin” has made considerable progress in the Chinese mining industry”, the Executive Director underlined.

“It is obvious that “Zijin” has surpassed the former understanding of mining. The fact that you are spreading to other continents is not only beneficial to your profits, but also to the environment, as your activities are leaving it clean and orderly; your workers are protected by the highest world standards. I truly hope that you will come to Serbia, since your company sets the bar higher when it comes to mining”, Mr. Nikolić said after he had visited the gold-copper mines at “Zijin”.