Astana, October 13 — Mr. Chen Jinghe, chairman of leading global metals miner Zijin Mining, met with Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov in Astana to discuss the company’s operations in the country and further cooperation following the acquisition of the Raygorodok Gold Mine.

During the meeting, Chairman Chen thanked the Government of Kazakhstan for its support in the completion of the Raygorodok Gold Mine transaction. “Raygorodok has substantial resource potential and mature development conditions,” he said. “Leveraging our in-house research, engineering, and project execution capabilities, Zijin will accelerate debottlenecking and expansion programs at the operation. We will work to make Raygorodok Kazakhstan’s benchmark for modern, eco-friendly gold mining. With its vast territory, abundant resources and favorable business environment, Kazakhstan is one of Zijin’s most important investment destinations in Central Asia. We look forward to developing more large mining projects here in the future.”

Prime Minister Bektenov warmly welcomed the Zijin delegation and congratulated the company on the successful acquisition. He noted that Kazakhstan and China are permanent comprehensive strategic partners and bilateral relations have reached a new height thanks to the steering of the heads of state of both nations. They are seeing expanded cooperation across energy, mineral resources, trade and agriculture. He said that Zijin Mining is a global leader in the metals and mining industry. The Government of Kazakhstan welcomes Zijin’s presence in the country and will support Raygorodok’s expansion programs, which are expected to boost the overall value and technological capabilities of Kazakhstan’s mining industry. He also expressed the willingness to maintain close communication with the company to expand mutually beneficial cooperation.

The meeting was also attended by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Yersain Nagaspayev, Akmola Region Governor Marat Aikhmaizhanov, Zijin Mining President Zou Laichang, Executive Vice President Lin Hongfu, Vice President Long Yi, and executives of Zijin Gold International and the Raygorodok Gold Mine.

While in Kazakhstan, Chairman Chen and his delegation visited the Raygorodok mine site and paid courtesy calls on Akmola Region Governor Marat Aikhmaizhanov, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin, and partners of the Raygorodok operation.