Chinese Miners Boost ESG Focus as Western Momentum Cools, Zijin Executive Says

Chinese mining companies are putting greater emphasis on environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards even as enthusiasm wanes in Western markets, a senior executive at Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. said.

Global ESG sentiment has diverged, with major Western markets dialing back their ESG focus while China and emerging economies in Africa and Latin America step up their commitments, Xie Xionghui, executive director and executive vice president of Zijin Mining, told reporters on Sept. 3. He made the remarks during the United Nations Global Compact summit in Singapore.