Analysis and reflection on the situation of strategic mineral resources conservation in China

Mineral resources are the important material guarantee for a country’s economic development. After entering the 21st century, the struggle for mineral resources has become the top priority of national games. Currently, the United States, the European Union, Japan, represented by the developed countries, have put forward their own series of policies for the development of mineral resources. Facing the increasingly complex international situation and external market environment, China, based on the real situation, combined with the urgent needs of economic and social development, puts forward the concept of strategic mineral resources from the height of maintaining national security and sustainable economic development. Sorts out the main risks facing the supply of strategic mineral resources in China. It is argued that problems such as uneven spatial distribution, persistently high foreign-trade dependence, relatively concentrated import sources, and difficulty in securing minimum demand under extreme circumstances need urgent attention to solve. In addition, problems such as declining domestic investment in mineral search, slow progress in overseas mineral search, and insufficient recycling are increasingly becoming the main shortcomings limiting the high-quality socio-economic development of China. Accordingly, puts forward the suggested measures to make efforts to build an independent and controllable strategic mineral resources supply system by coordinating the strategic planning system, exploring joint scientific research, strengthening exploration and development, promoting overseas investment, and implementing the normalization of reserves.