This year's conference, themed "Anchoring Strategic Resources to Boost Reserves and Production", aims to strengthen China's security for critical minerals. More than 1,500 representatives from geological survey institutes, mining enterprises, research organizations and equipment manufacturers attended the three-day event.

Cheng Liwei, head of the China Mining Association, highlighted Xinjiang's pivotal role. "As one of China's leading mining provinces, Xinjiang has identified 154 mineral types, which is around 88 percent of the nation's known deposits, and it adopts more flexible, open policies than other regions," he said.