5 February 2024

Council President Nikolić meets General Manager of Serbia Zijin Mining

President of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China Tomislav Nikolić talked today with the representatives of China’s Serbia Zijin Mining, headed by Mr. Chen Yong, the company’s General Manager.

Mr. Chen Yong, the Chinese company’s representative, informed the President of the Council about the activities of Serbia Zijin Mining so far, as well as about the progress on the Čukaru Peki copper-gold mine project. “Serbia Zijin Mining became the largest Serbian exporter in the first quarter of 2022, and it produced 138 500 tonnes of copper and 4 955 kilograms of gold in 2023. Since 2019, when it employed just under 100 workers, the number of employees has risen to 1 243. Serbia Zijin Mining is striving to become an important copper and gold production company in Serbia, and our main goals include continuous contributions to the economic development of Serbia, higher share of mining in GDP, rise to the position of the second-largest copper producer in Europe and catching up with the top-level European mining companies in terms of the GHG emissions and low-level carbon emissions, environmental protection, economic benefits, social responsibility, health and safety, as well as sustainable development, in parallel with building a relevant mining company,” Mr. Chen Yong said.

Council President Nikolić thanked the representatives of Serbia Zijin Mining for a detailed report on the company’s operations. “Mining is the most difficult of jobs, as anything can happen at any time. This is why it is vital to take all of the available safety precautions, to go by the book and to operate in line with the granted permits and instructions. Employee safety is of utmost importance, more important than the quantity of ore extracted. It is only by virtue of mutual cooperation that we can achieve success. Your investment should set an example to all other foreign partners that two nations can achieve much though close cooperation,” Council President Nikolić underlined.