Time:2009/3/12 

Presently, China's demand for strategic resources (such as oil, water, rare metals, etc.) is increasing. How to ensure access to such strategic resources is an important topic for China's development and security. Therefore, on December 30, 2008 CISS PKU organized a discussion on "Acquisition of strategic resources overseas". Experts and scholars from the Ministry of Commerce, China's Energy Research Council, Xinhua News Agency, Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Tsinghua University, National Defense University and other institutions participated in the discussion. CISS Director Prof.Wang Jisi delivered a speech and Prof. Zhu Feng and Prof. Zha Daojiong presided over the seminar.

Topics of the meeting included "How to Define Strategic Resource", "Strategic Resource Reserves and Access to Reserves", "Control of Strategic Resource Exports", "International Cooperation on acquirement of Strategic Resources". Experts agreed that the strategic resources must be defined with a long-term perspective, and must also take into consideration China's own resources, the structure of resource consumption, the geopolitical environment, and other specific conditions. Scholars attending the meeting suggested that the importance of each resource, its level of scarcity, and the restructuring of national industries should all be used to determine the priority of acquiring the resource. Some academics have suggested, although the oil, gas, water, and other resources for China's sustainable development are crucial, other reserves and resources such as rare earth metals, tungsten, cesium are also important to consider. Representatives from the current state of export controls, and shared that export controls for strategic resources should not only take into account diplomatic needs, but should also help enhance China's ability to compete and sustain the long-term goal. On the topic of international cooperation on strategic resources acquisition, delegates think attention should be paid to the differences between important partners, and that there are diverse ways to promote cooperation to maintain channels of cooperation. CISS will continue to invite the relevant government departments, military and industry experts and scholars to explore this important issue.