A "two-way development strategy" to be adopted by the Chinese mining industry will pay equal attention to both the exploitation and efficient use of mineral resources, from the modernization of mines to bolstered efforts to find new mineral reserves, land and resources officials said yesterday.

A healthy mining industry will play an important role in the country's sustainable economic development, Vice-Minister of Land and Resources Wang Min said yesterday at the opening ceremony of China Mining 2005, an international symposium that was held in Beijing.

"A feasible energy strategy will be launched to strengthen the country's mineral reserve survey and investigations into scarce resources," Wang said.

Existing mines will be modernized, and the establishment of competitive mining groups and development of small mines will be supported, he said.

Supervision measures will also be upgraded to guarantee efficient and environmentally friendly exploration.

Meanwhile, China will double its efforts to boost international trade in mineral products, encourage competitive domestic enterprises to join overseas exploitation and weave a solid and secure energy supply chain.

"China's mining industry has played an increasing role in the world mining sector," said Karin Finkelston, deputy director of the East Asia and Pacific Department under the World Bank.

"The World Bank hopes to increase its investment in the mining industry in China to encourage environmental and social responsible manners in the sector," Finkelston said.

(China Daily November 16, 2005)