Barrick Gold and Randgold announced a merger that creates a distinctive gold industry leader with the potential to transform our industry for the better. Zijin, as Barrick’s strategic partner, warmly welcomes the combination of these two leading firms and looks forward to working closely with the new company to identify further opportunities for cooperation around the globe.

Since the formation in 2015 of our 50-50 joint venture at the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea, Zijin and Barrick have worked hand-in-hand to ensure the mine’s continued commercial success and its economic and social contributions to the surrounding communities and to the nation. Our companies and people have gotten to know each other thoroughly as partners and, in the process, come to understand that our approaches to mining and global perspectives are complementary and aligned.

Zijin also knows Randgold well as a colleague in the mining industry of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Randgold has a deserved reputation for finding the best assets and operating them in a way that benefits shareholders and earns enduring support from host communities and countries. Zijin considers Africa to be one of the most prospective regions on the planet, and we are confident that the new company’s expertise and record of success on the continent will create more avenues to expand our strategic partnership.