Gansu"s mining sector and related raw material processing industries have maintained annual revenues of more than 700 billion yuan, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the province"s large-scale industrial enterprise revenue, with the sector"s role as an economic "ballast" becoming increasingly prominent.

　　On green transformation and high-end upgrading, Wang said that Gansu has promoted coordinated development of resource exploitation and environmental protection, improved standards and evaluation systems for green mining, said Wang, noting that the province has also deployed 2.72 billion yuan in loans, built 194 green mines, and restored 137,500 mu (9,166.67 hectares) of abandoned mining land through ecological rehabilitation.

　　Gansu has also launched a high-end nonferrous materials development campaign, focusing on building hundred-billion-yuan-level industrial chains in nickel-cobalt and high-quality copper and aluminum processing, upgrading high-end special steel manufacturing, and developing industries in rare, scattered, and rare-earth metals as well as precious metals such as gold, according to the press conference.

　　Mineral resources are fundamental raw materials for economic development and a key pillar of national economic security, Li Changan, an economist at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

　　On April 29, China"s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) released the latest national mineral resource data, showing that China ranks first globally in reserves of 14 minerals, including rare earths, tungsten, gallium, germanium, and graphite. In 2025, China also led the world in output of 17 minerals, including coal, rare earths, gold, and tellurium, according to the Xinhua News Agency.