Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology Xu Nanping (right) and Director General of Science and Technology of South Africa Phil Mjwara jointly unveil the China-South Africa Joint Research Center for the Development and Utilization of Mineral Resources (LI JIANGUO)
The China-South Africa Joint Research Center for the Development and Utilization of Mineral Resources, the first joint research center jointly established by China and South Africa, was officially launched on September 14 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Scientific and technological cooperation in the sector of mineral resources between China and South Africa started in 2010. The newly launched joint research center will focus on enhancing bilateral academic exchanges, and promoting the transformation of the joint research results in sectors of mining, beneficiation, and environmental protection to drive the scientific and technological innovation and cooperation in the mining industry of the two countries.
The launch ceremony is held at Mintek, Johannesburg (LI JIANGUO)
At the launch ceremony, Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology Xu Nanping said that the establishment of the center is significant to the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and deepening the scientific and technological collaboration between two countries in the mining sector.
Phil Mjwara, Director General of Science and Technology of South Africa, called the launch a special strategic importance.
Mjwara said that the move will enhance South Africa's abilities to harness science and technology for the country's economic growth, and it represents an important milestone in the two countries cooperation in scientific and technological innovation.
Sakhi Simelane, Acting CEO of Mintek, delivers a welcome speech at the launch ceremony (LI JIANGUO)
The research center will be operated by a consortium led by Mintek in South Africa and Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in China.
Mintek is South Africa's national mineral research organization. Established in 1934, it is one of the world's leading technology organizations specializing in minerals processing, extractive metallurgy and related areas. Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy is a technology enterprise with an active role in scientific research and technological development in the field of comprehensive utilization of mineral resources in China.
