China urged to reform mineral resource management system

Source: Xinhua | 03-09-2009 17:36

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- A political advisor said Monday that China should reform its mineral resources management system, as the current licensing system fails to reflect the true value of mine assets.

Wei Xiaochun, member of the 11th National  Committee of the Chinese People's Political  Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the  fourth plenary meeting of the Second Session of  the 11th National Committee of the CPPCC held at  the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital  of China, March 9, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

"The licenses only give licensees the rights to explore for mineral resources or develop mines, not the ownership of the resources. But the licensee are not paying for the resources they sell, which means the state's ownership of all mine assets is never realized," said Wei Xiaochun, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory body.