China's Natural Resources Ministry Plans Deep-Sea Exploration, Targets 13 Trillion Yuan Marine Economy
On September 22, China's Ministry of Natural Resources outlined its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for natural resources, focusing on farmland protection, mineral exploration, and four resource industries. Key targets include maintaining a 1.8 billion mu arable land red line, achieving 25.8% forest coverage by 2030, boosting strategic mineral self-sufficiency for oil, iron, copper, and aluminum, and growing the marine economy to over 13 trillion yuan. The plan also promotes green mining, AI-driven exploration, and geospatial data for smart driving and low-altitude economy.
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China's Natural Resources Ministry Outlines Plans to Support High-Quality Development in 15th Five-Year Plan
In a press conference on the '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030), China's Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration outlined key targets and policies for the period. The ministry pledged to strictly protect the 18.65 billion mu (about 124 million hectares) arable land red line through a 'three-in-one' approach to quantity, quality, and ecology. It aims to shift from land expansion to stock land revitalization for urban development. The forestry authority targets a national forest coverage rate of 25.8% by 2030, a forest stock volume of 22.4 billion cubic meters, and a total forestry industry output value of 14 trillion yuan. In mineral resources, the government plans to increase 1:50,000 regional geological survey coverage to 51% and mineral survey coverage in key metallogenic belts to 66%, focusing on oil, iron, copper, and aluminum to boost self-sufficiency. The article attributes these plans and forecasts to specific officials including Minister Liu Guohong, Vice Minister Zhang Wentong, and Vice Minister Zhou Xing.
Read sourceChina's Natural Resources Ministry Outlines Plans to Support High-Quality Development by 2030
At a State Council Information Office press conference, China's Ministry of Natural Resources outlined key targets for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030) to better support high-quality development through sustainable resource use. Officials announced that from January to August 2025, national exploration rights transaction value surged 133.5% year-on-year, with nearly 70 million tonnes of new recoverable oil reserves and 610 billion cubic meters of new recoverable natural gas reserves. Key goals include: strictly maintaining the 18-billion-mu (120 million hectares) farmland red line; achieving 25.8% forest coverage by 2030; increasing forest stock volume to 22.4 billion cubic meters; raising geological survey coverage of important metallogenic belts to 66%; and launching a new round of mineral prospecting campaigns focusing on oil, iron, copper, and aluminum. Officials emphasized balancing urban development with land conservation through stock land revitalization, and leveraging AI technology for deep-earth and marine resource exploration. The Ministry also aims to boost the forestry and grass industry's total output value to 14 trillion yuan by 2030.
China Outlines Land, Mineral, and Forest Protection Plans for 15th Five-Year Period
At a September 22 press conference hosted by the State Council Information Office, Chinese officials detailed plans for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030) regarding natural resource protection and utilization. Natural Resources Minister Liu Guohong emphasized a 'three-in-one' approach to safeguard the 18-million-mu (120 million hectare) farmland red line, focusing on quantity, quality, and ecological protection, with a new dedicated law taking effect in January 2025. Vice Minister Zhou Xing announced a renewed mineral exploration campaign targeting oil, iron, copper, and aluminum to boost self-sufficiency, alongside deep-sea and deep-earth technology development. Officials also outlined goals to expand forest coverage to 25.8% by 2030, grow the forestry industry output to 14 trillion yuan, and develop marine industries such as offshore wind power (targeting 100 GW capacity) and marine biomedicine (targeting 130 billion yuan added value). The plans aim to balance economic development, ecological protection, and public welfare through land-use efficiency, resource recycling, and new business models like eco-tourism and smart driving.
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China to Share Land Planning Map, Allocate New Construction Land for Major Projects
China's Ministry of Natural Resources held a press conference on September 22, outlining plans for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030). Officials stated that the country will adhere to a shared 'one map' for territorial space planning, reserving land for over 2,800 major projects to support key infrastructure networks. The ministry emphasized that while the supply of new construction land is sufficient, the focus will be on efficient allocation and use. Policies will shift from relying on incremental land to revitalizing existing land stock, and from resource transfer to resource operation. The ministry also aims to improve spatial governance and resource allocation efficiency. In environmental goals, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration targets a national forest coverage rate of 25.8% by 2030. A new dedicated law on farmland protection and quality improvement will take effect on January 1, 2025. In mineral resources, the ministry reported significant exploration progress, including new oil and gas reserves, and plans to boost domestic supply of strategic minerals like oil, iron, copper, and aluminum to enhance resource security.
Read sourceChina Outlines Natural Resource Plans for 15th Five-Year Period, Focusing on Farmland, Mining, and Ecology
At a September 22 State Council Information Office press conference, Chinese officials detailed plans for natural resource protection and utilization during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030). Natural Resources Minister Liu Guohong stated the government will take a 'three-in-one' approach to protect 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares) of farmland, balancing quantity, quality, and ecology. A new Farmland Protection and Quality Improvement Law takes effect January 1, 2025. Vice Minister Zhou Xing announced a renewed mineral exploration campaign targeting oil, iron, copper, and aluminum to boost self-sufficiency, alongside AI applications for deep-earth and deep-sea exploration. Officials pledged to expand the 'two mountains' (lucid waters and lush mountains) transformation to increase rural incomes. Targets include raising forest coverage to 25.8% by 2030, growing the marine biomedical industry to 130 billion yuan, doubling offshore wind capacity to 100 GW, and expanding geospatial data applications for smart driving and the low-altitude economy.
China's Ministry of Natural Resources Forecasts Marine Economy to Exceed 13 Trillion Yuan by 2030
On September 22, China's State Council Information Office held a press conference on the '15th Five-Year Plan' period. The Ministry of Natural Resources announced significant progress in mineral exploration, including the discovery of a super-large copper-gold deposit, and pledged to continue a new round of strategic mineral prospecting to secure energy resources. The Ministry forecast that by 2030, China's gross ocean product will exceed 13 trillion yuan, marine biomedical industry added value will surpass 130 billion yuan (a 30% increase from 2025), and offshore wind power installed capacity will double. Minister Liu Guohong stated the '15th Five-Year Plan' period is critical for laying the foundation for socialist modernization. Vice Minister Zhou Xing outlined plans to deepen 3D real-scene China construction, advance spatiotemporal AI, promote Beidou satellite navigation applications, and support smart driving, low-altitude economy, and embodied AI industries. Vice Minister Zhuang Shaoqin noted China's urban-rural development has entered a stock-oriented phase, requiring a shift from 'land finance' to 'spatiotemporal economy' through urban renewal and spatial asset optimization.
Read sourceChina's Natural Resources Ministry to Cut Land Costs, Boost Strategic Mineral Exploration
On September 22, China's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) announced at a State Council press conference a series of policy measures to reduce upfront land acquisition costs and support new business forms and industries. Officials outlined plans to lower land costs through flexible payment schedules, transitional use policies, and temporary use rules. The MNR will also launch a major mineral exploration campaign focusing on scarce resources like oil, iron, copper, and aluminum, while also addressing rare earths. The goal is to discover new large and medium-sized mineral deposits and oil/gas fields, and steadily build about 300 energy resource bases to significantly boost self-sufficiency in strategic minerals. Separately, the ministry aims to push the marine economy past 13 trillion yuan, promote green mining with over 80% of large and medium mines becoming green mines, and advance deep-sea/deep-earth exploration, smart mining, and mineral processing. The MNR also plans to authorize public data resources like satellite navigation stations and Tianditu to support smart driving, low-altitude economy, and embodied AI industries.
Read sourceChina outlines natural resource protection and mineral exploration plans for 15th Five-Year Plan
China's State Council Information Office held a press conference on September 22, focusing on natural resource protection and utilization during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030). Natural Resources Minister Liu Guohong stated the ministry will take a 'three-in-one' approach to protect farmland quantity, quality, and ecology, strictly maintaining the 18-million-mu (120 million hectares) red line for arable land. A new law on farmland protection and quality improvement takes effect January 1. Vice Minister Zhou Xing said a new round of strategic mineral prospecting will target oil, iron, copper, and aluminum to boost self-sufficiency, using AI and deep-earth/sea exploration. Liu also pledged to expand 'two mountains' (lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets) conversion paths through ecological industrialization. National Forestry and Grassland Administration Deputy Director Yan Zhen set targets for 2030: 25.8% forest coverage, 224 billion cubic meters of forest stock, and 14 trillion yuan in forestry industry output. The ministry will also develop marine new energy, biomedicine, and geospatial information industries, targeting 130 billion yuan in marine biomedicine added value and 100 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.
Read sourceChina to Cut Land Costs, Boost Mineral Self-Sufficiency and Marine Economy by 2030
On September 22, China's Ministry of Natural Resources announced a series of policy measures at a State Council press conference to reduce upfront land acquisition costs, support new business forms and industries, and boost strategic mineral self-sufficiency. Officials outlined plans for a new round of mineral exploration, targeting oil, iron, copper, aluminum, and rare earths, aiming to discover large- and medium-sized deposits and build about 300 energy resource bases. The ministry also aims to increase the coverage of geological surveys and accelerate green transformation, with over 80% of large- and medium-sized mines expected to become green mines. In the marine sector, the ministry targets marine GDP exceeding 13 trillion yuan, supported by growth in shipbuilding and offshore engineering orders. Additionally, the ministry will promote the commercial use of geospatial data and BeiDou navigation to support smart driving, low-altitude economy, and embodied AI industries. Land policies will be optimized to lower initial costs through flexible payment schedules and transitional use policies, while improving land reserve and supply mechanisms to shift from current revenue to combined current and expected operational income.
Read sourceChina's Natural Resources Ministry Outlines 'Four Focuses' for 15th Five-Year Plan
On September 22, China's State Council Information Office held a press conference on the '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030) for natural resources. Natural Resources Minister Liu Guohong announced a strategy centered on 'four focuses': improving spatial governance, resource allocation efficiency, ecosystem quality, and security capabilities. Key measures include accelerating the national territorial planning 'one map' system to coordinate land use for over 2,800 major projects; shifting from 'land finance' to 'time-space economy' for urban renewal and rural revitalization; establishing a unified natural resource asset account to optimize allocation; continuing ecological restoration with progress in national parks (e.g., Hainan gibbons increased to 44, wild Siberian tigers to 72); intensifying the 'Three-North' shelterbelt project in key desert regions; and implementing a new arable land protection law from January 2025. Major mineral discoveries were reported, including rare earths in Sichuan and copper-gold in Anhui, with a new round of strategic mineral prospecting planned to secure supply for advanced manufacturing.
Read sourceChina's Ministry of Natural Resources: Marine Economy Output to Exceed 13 Trillion Yuan by 2030
On September 22, China's State Council Information Office held a press conference on the '15th Five-Year Plan' period. The Ministry of Natural Resources announced significant progress in mineral exploration this year, including the discovery of a super-large copper-gold deposit, and pledged to continue a new round of strategic mineral prospecting to secure energy resources. The Ministry forecast that by 2030, China's gross ocean product will exceed 13 trillion yuan, marine biomedical industry added value will surpass 130 billion yuan (a 30% increase from 2025), and offshore wind power installed capacity will double. Minister Liu Guohong stated that the '15th Five-Year Plan' period is critical for laying the foundation for socialist modernization. Vice Minister Zhou Xing outlined plans to advance 3D real-scene China construction, promote satellite navigation and geospatial data value, and support smart driving, low-altitude economy, and embodied intelligence. The Ministry also aims to strengthen traditional marine industries, develop emerging sectors like marine biomedicine and seawater desalination, and plan for future industries such as deep-sea exploration and hydrogen production from seawater. Additionally, the Ministry will continue strategic mineral prospecting, aiming to increase geological survey coverage and discover new large and medium-sized mineral deposits and oil and gas fields, while building about 300 energy resource bases. Vice Minister Zhuang Shaoqin noted that China's urban-rural development has entered a stock-oriented phase, requiring a shift from 'land finance' to a high-quality 'spatiotemporal economy' through spatial planning reforms.
Read sourceChina's Ministry of Natural Resources Vows to Cut Land Costs, Boost Mineral Exploration
On September 22, officials from China's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) announced at a State Council press conference a series of policy measures aimed at reducing upfront land acquisition costs and supporting new industries. The MNR plans to optimize land policies, including adjusting payment schedules and transitional use rules, to lower initial land costs. It will also launch special support policies for new business forms and industries. In the mining sector, the MNR will focus on exploring for紧缺 minerals like oil, iron, copper, and aluminum, while also developing优势 minerals like rare earths. The goal is to discover new large and medium-sized mineral deposits and oil and gas fields, and to steadily build about 300 energy and resource bases to significantly boost the self-sufficiency rate of strategic minerals. The MNR also aims to increase the coverage of geological surveys, promote green mining, and advance deep-sea and deep-earth exploration. Additionally, the MNR targets pushing the marine economy's gross product past 13 trillion yuan and will promote the commercial use of satellite navigation and geographic information data to support emerging industries like intelligent driving and the low-altitude economy.
Read sourceChina's Ministry of Natural Resources Plans to Upgrade Four Resource Industries by 2030
On September 22, at a State Council Information Office press conference, China's Ministry of Natural Resources spokesperson and Vice Minister Zhou Xing outlined plans for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030) to upgrade four key resource industries. For mining, the ministry aims to transition toward green and deep development, targeting over 80% of large and medium-sized mines to become green mines, and advancing deep-sea exploration and smart mining. For forestry and grassland, the focus is on enriching and beautifying the sector, promoting forest-based foods, eco-tourism, and forest health, targeting a total output value of 14 trillion yuan. For marine industries, the goal is to innovate and optimize, expanding traditional sectors like offshore oil and gas while developing marine biomedicine and seawater desalination, aiming for marine GDP to exceed 13 trillion yuan. For geographic information, the ministry will promote smart and practical applications, including 3D real-scene China, AI integration, and BeiDou satellite navigation scaling, to support emerging industries like autonomous driving and low-altitude economy.
Read sourceChina Outlines Natural Resource Protection and Utilization Plans for 15th Five-Year Plan Period
At a State Council Information Office press conference on September 22, Chinese officials detailed plans for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) regarding natural resource protection and utilization. Minister Liu Guohong stated the government will safeguard the 18-million-mu (1.2 million hectare) farmland red line through quantity, quality, and ecological protection, supported by a new dedicated law effective January 1. Vice Minister Zhou Xing announced a new round of mineral exploration focusing on oil, iron, copper, and aluminum to boost self-sufficiency. Officials also outlined targets for forest coverage (25.8% by 2030), forest stock volume (224 billion cubic meters), and the marine biomedical industry (adding value exceeding 130 billion yuan by 2030). The strategy includes expanding offshore wind capacity to 100 million kilowatts, promoting eco-tourism and forest health industries, and leveraging geographic information data for smart driving and the low-altitude economy. The plans aim to balance development, ecological protection, and public welfare.
Read sourceChina Outlines Natural Resource Plans for 15th Five-Year Period at Press Conference
At a September 22 State Council Information Office press conference, Chinese natural resource officials outlined plans for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030). Minister Liu Guohong stated the ministry will uphold the 18-million-mu (120 million hectare) farmland red line through a 'three-in-one' approach of quantity, quality, and ecological protection, enforced by a new dedicated law effective January 2025. Vice Minister Zhou Xing announced a renewed mineral exploration campaign targeting oil, iron, copper, and aluminum to boost self-sufficiency, alongside AI-driven deep-earth and marine surveys. Officials pledged to expand 'lucid waters and lush mountains' economic conversion via eco-industries, forest tourism, and health retreats. Targets include raising forest coverage to 25.8% by 2030, doubling offshore wind capacity to 100 GW, and growing the marine biomedicine sector to 130 billion yuan. The plan also promotes geospatial data licensing for smart driving and low-altitude economy applications.
Read sourceChina Outlines Plans for Secure, Efficient Natural Resource Use in 15th Five-Year Plan
On September 22, China's State Council Information Office held a press conference as part of the 'Starting the 15th Five-Year Plan' series. Officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration outlined key policies for the 2026-2030 period. The Ministry stated it will fully implement the main functional area strategy, using a four-tier (national, provincial, city, county) territorial spatial planning system to refine spatial functions and enforce differentiated management rules. It will accelerate the construction of a unified 'one map' platform for spatial planning. The Ministry also announced plans to complete the consolidation and optimization of protected areas, win the 'Three-North' Shelterbelt Project campaign, and deepen the 'Mountain, Water, Forest, Field, Lake, Grass, Sand' ecological restoration project. Additionally, it will adopt a 'three-in-one' approach to protect farmland quantity, quality, and ecology; coordinate the exploration, production, supply, storage, and sales of strategic mineral resources; and comprehensively conduct geological disaster risk surveys and monitoring to enhance national land security resilience under extreme weather conditions.
Read sourceChina unveils measures for mineral exploration, marine economy, and smart driving in 15th Five-Year Plan
At a State Council Information Office press conference on the '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030), Chinese authorities announced multiple initiatives for natural resource security and economic development. Key findings include: from January to August, China added nearly 70 million tonnes of new recoverable oil reserves and 610 billion cubic meters of natural gas; a super-large copper-gold deposit was discovered in Anhui. The Ministry of Natural Resources reported that flagship species in national parks are recovering, with Hainan gibbons reaching 44 and wild Siberian tigers 72. Marine engineering equipment new orders surged 160.8% year-on-year. For the '15th Five-Year Plan' period, the government will focus on spatial governance, resource efficiency, ecosystem quality, and security capacity. Specific targets include: marine gross product exceeding 13 trillion yuan by 2030, offshore wind capacity doubling to 100 GW, and marine biomedical industry value exceeding 130 billion yuan. The plan also promotes geospatial data for smart driving, low-altitude economy, and embodied AI industries. In mineral exploration, the goal is to increase 1:50,000 geological survey coverage to 51% and build about 300 energy resource bases to boost strategic mineral self-sufficiency.
Read sourceChina unveils mineral, marine, and geospatial plans for 15th Five-Year Plan period
At a State Council Information Office press conference, Chinese authorities announced a series of measures for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030) to ensure natural resource security and sustainable use. Key highlights include: a major copper-gold deposit discovery in Anhui and a lead-zinc deposit in Guizhou; continued recovery of flagship species in national parks, with Hainan gibbons reaching 44 and wild Siberian tigers 72; a 160.8% year-on-year increase in marine engineering equipment orders from January to August; and a target for offshore wind power installed capacity to double to 100 million kilowatts by 2030. The government plans to boost marine GDP to over 13 trillion yuan by 2030, develop marine biomedicine and seawater desalination, and advance deep-sea exploration. In the geospatial sector, it will promote BeiDou navigation applications and support smart driving, low-altitude economy, and embodied AI industries. A new round of mineral exploration will aim to discover large and high-grade deposits, with plans to build about 300 energy resource bases to enhance self-sufficiency in strategic minerals.
Read sourceChina unveils mineral finds, marine economy goals, and AI-geospatial plans for 15th Five-Year Plan
China's State Council Information Office held a press conference on promoting the safe, efficient, and sustainable use of natural resources during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030). Key announcements included major mineral discoveries: a super-large copper-gold deposit in Anhui and a lead-zinc deposit in Guizhou. From January to August, new recoverable oil reserves reached nearly 70 million tons, and natural gas reserves increased by 610 billion cubic meters. The marine economy is a priority, with a target for marine gross product to exceed 13 trillion yuan by 2030, driven by offshore wind power capacity doubling to 100 GW, and marine biomedicine value added exceeding 130 billion yuan. The Ministry of Natural Resources outlined four focus areas: spatial governance, resource allocation efficiency, ecosystem quality, and security capabilities. It also announced measures to boost the geospatial information industry, including promoting Beidou navigation applications and real-scene 3D China data to support smart driving, low-altitude economy, and embodied AI industries. A new round of mineral exploration will target large and high-grade deposits to enhance strategic resource self-sufficiency.
Read sourceChina's Natural Resources Ministry Outlines Plans to Boost Four Resource Industries
On September 22, at a State Council Information Office press conference, China's Vice Minister of Natural Resources, Zhou Xing, outlined the ministry's plans for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030) to develop four key 'resource industries': mining, forestry and grassland, marine, and geographic information. For mining, the goal is to transition over 80% of large and medium-sized mines to 'green mines' and achieve breakthroughs in deep-earth and deep-sea exploration, smart mining, and mineral processing. In forestry and grassland, the ministry aims to expand wood oil, under-forest economy, eco-tourism, and forest health, targeting a total output value of 14 trillion yuan. For the marine sector, which exceeded 11 trillion yuan in output in 2025, plans include strengthening traditional industries like offshore oil and gas and marine tourism, while developing emerging sectors like marine biomedicine and seawater desalination, and future industries like deep-sea exploration and hydrogen production, aiming for 13 trillion yuan. For geographic information, the ministry will advance '3D Real China' construction, integrate AI with geographic information, promote the commercial use of public data like the BeiDou navigation system, and support smart driving, low-altitude economy, and embodied intelligence.
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