On 2011-05-24, Dr. Elena Caprioni, Post-doctoral Fellow, The Institute of Asian Research, University of British Colombia, had an invited talk on her current research in China and exchanged views with scholars in CASS/IEA, her talk focused on “Foreign Direct Investment in Western China ’s Mining Sector”. Professor Zhang Jijiao from CASS/IEA chaired this roundtable.
Dr. Elena Caprioni presented that after the launch of the Western Development Program in early 2000, and following China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, foreign investors were eager to invest into one of the most booming mining markets in the world. China’s ability to attract FDI has been impressive: since 1992 it has featured as one of the top three global FDI destinations. In 2000, more than 200 Western mining companies were fervent and ready to make some in-roads into the lucrative Chinese mining market. Recently, a number of complex issues have arisen which have hampered the flow of Western mining FDI. After roughly a decade, many companies have departed from the Chinese market, and most of those that remain are only involved in selling equipment and marketing efforts. This research involves an extensive understanding of the barriers that have contributed to a decrease of Western mining FDI into China ’s mining and mineral sector. The aim of this talk is to not only clarify the issues but also to encourage constructive dialogue between countries as a way of assisting China to meet its resource needs and to assist the growth and sustainable development of China’s mining industry, and promote fair international trade.
(Reported by the Canadian Studies Center of CASS/IEA)