The mineral industry and mineral processing industry are expected to generate 40 percent of the total industrial output value in China's western regions. West China has proven deposits of 123 minerals, including reserves of 20, such as natural gas, copper, sylvite, and zinc that account for over half of the national total. The region has ten zones of mineral concentration, including Tarim, Qaidam, Altay, southwestern Yunnan, central Guizhou, and the eastern Tianshan Mountains.

Many foreign firms have investigated the mineral investment environment in the west and agreements and contracts have been negotiated and settled. Part of the contracted foreign investment has already been put to use. This year, five agreements have been concluded in Yunnan for mineral exploitation and prospecting which have brought in a total investment of US$30 million.

The Ministry of Land and Resources has launched a national resource survey, with the purpose to improve mineral research and reduce risks in deposit discovery, and 60 percent of the survey funds is allocated to western regions,

Both domestic and foreign enterprises will be provided with incentives to invest in the establishment of market-oriented, environmental-friendly mineral entities which will utilize and therefore develop local resources, including oil, natural gas, non-ferrous metals, rare earth, rare earth-metal, and precious metals.

(CIIC 11/30/2000)