Abstract: As a key engine driving sustainable development across industries worldwide, ESG （Environmental, Social, and Governance） principles are gaining momentum globally. In the mining sector, China has positioned “green mine construction” as a key initiative to advance ecological civilization within the industry. This paper focuses on the shared characteristics and distinct differences between green mine construction and ESG governance in empowering mining enterprises, exploring their intrinsic connections and synergistic mechanisms. The goal is to jointly facilitate the high-quality development of China’s mining industry. This study reveals that green mine construction establishes policy regulations to standardize the environmental management throughout the entire life cycle of mining operations, while ESG governance quantifies corporate sustainability value through market-driven mechanisms. Although the two frameworks differ in their standard positioning, evaluation targets, driving mechanisms, assessment methodologies, evaluation timelines, indicator weighting, and applicable scenarios, both ultimately serve to facilitate the transformation and upgrading of mining enterprises, enhance risk management, and secure financial support. In terms of synergistic mechanisms, green mine construction represents a policy-driven scientific practice of a proactive government, while ESG reflects a commercial technical application of an efficient market. green mine construction provides compliance assurance for mining enterprises to “go global”, whereas ESG offers a universal language for them to “integrate into” international markets. The conclusion points out that the synergy between the two approaches represents both a deep symbiosis between a proactive government and an efficient market and a critical mechanism to address ecological conflicts and trust barriers in the internationalization of mining enterprises. It is suggested to promote synergistic development from three aspects. To accelerate the construction of ESG standard system of China’s mining industry, and connect international framework with local practice. To strengthen the bridging role of industry associations to facilitate policy advocacy, case-sharing, and resource integration. To encourage enterprises to harmonize domestic and global standards, transforming green mine achievements into ESG competitive advantages.