Party Building Leads Technological Innovation — Shang Honglin and his delegation convened a symposium on “Strengthening Party Building, Focusing on Core Business, and Promoting Innovation” at the Institute of Geology and the General Institute of Chemical Geological Survey.

On July 1, Shang Honglin, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman, and Director of the Group (Bureau), led a delegation to the Institute of Geology and the General Institute of Chemical Geological Survey to hold a symposium on “Strengthening Party Building, Focusing on Core Business, and Promoting Innovation,” where they engaged with scientific and technological professionals in discussions on innovation. Jiao Sen, Member of the Party Committee and Chief Engineer of the Group (Bureau), chaired the symposium. Yao Chaomei, Head of the Group’s (Bureau’s) Chief Expert Panel, accompanied the meeting.

At the meeting, Gu Qiang, Party Secretary and President of the Institute of Geology, and Shu Guowen, Party Secretary and President of the Geological Survey Institute, respectively presented reports on scientific and technological innovation, progress on key projects, and the development of innovation teams. The heads of the Chemical‑Mining Geological Environment and Ecological Restoration Innovation Team, the Chemical‑Mineral Resources Testing Technology and Standards Research Team, and the Fluorite Mineral Resources Exploration and Evaluation Team each outlined their teams’ ongoing work. Leaders of the Group (Bureau) listened carefully to these reports and expressed full recognition of the achievements made in the two institutes’ science and technology innovation efforts. Meanwhile, via video link, they engaged with field personnel working on the Qinghai Potash Salt Project and the Lop Nur Potash Salt Project, extending festive greetings to those steadfastly holding the line at the production front.

Shang Honglin stated that, under the leadership of the Party, China National Chemical Corporation’s geological exploration workforce has, over the past 70 years, overcome formidable challenges and forged ahead with unwavering determination—building from scratch, growing stronger from weakness, and expanding from exploration to development, and from production to distribution—thereby making substantial contributions to safeguarding national strategic mineral resource security and ecological environmental safety. He emphasized that scientific and technological innovation has always been a key driving force behind the development of China National Chemical Mingda, calling for the vigorous implementation of an innovation‑driven development strategy, leveraging the guiding role of Party building in advancing science and technology, consistently placing technological innovation at the heart of development, and treating self-reliance and strength in science and technology as a strategic pillar for high‑quality growth. He encouraged scientific and technical personnel to carry forward the Party’s fine traditions, continuously ignite their enthusiasm for innovation and value creation, unleash their momentum for entrepreneurship and dedication, and provide robust support for the development of national strategic mineral resources and the enhancement of the ecological environment.

With regard to scientific and technological innovation, Shang Honglin put forward the “One Guiding Principle and Four Areas of Focus” requirements: First, we must deeply study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, earnestly implement the important instructions of Party and state leaders on scientific and technological innovation, take Party building as the guiding force, and integrate Party‑building work closely with innovation efforts to develop technologies that possess core competitiveness. Second, we must strive to emancipate our minds and innovate our thinking, encouraging scientific and technological professionals to be keen observers and diligent learners, to conduct research grounded in reality, to tackle difficult challenges and advance toward critical technologies, and to continuously break through and surpass their own limits. Third, we must seek breakthroughs in platform development and institutional reform—integrating innovation resources, strengthening innovation entities, enhancing service capabilities, building platforms to nurture talent, and attracting top talent through sound institutional frameworks. Fourth, we must devote significant effort to project construction, actively vying for key provincial and ministerial‑level projects, proactively planning ahead and submitting well‑targeted applications aligned with our strategic priorities, while reinforcing process management for ongoing projects to improve quality and foster core technologies and competitive industries. Fifth, we must adopt concrete measures to strengthen our talent pool, fully unleashing the motivation and vitality of our workforce and advancing the development of a robust echelon of high‑caliber professionals.

At the symposium, Yao Chaomei, head of the Group (Bureau) Chief Experts Panel, reviewed the state of scientific and technological innovation at the two academies. While fully acknowledging their achievements, she offered targeted guidance—drawing on the specific circumstances of both institutions—on such matters as distilling critical core technologies, cultivating high-level talent, building key laboratories, and leveraging existing research outcomes and data to provide policy recommendations to relevant national authorities.

During the symposium, Shang Honglin presented copies of Xi Jinping’s book “On Grasping the New Stage of Development, Implementing the New Development Philosophy, and Building the New Development Paradigm” to frontline scientific and technological personnel from both academies, encouraging them to study it diligently, draw on its essential insights, and apply them to their practical work.

Heads of the Group’s (Bureau’s) General Office, the Geological Science and Technology Department, the Human Resources Department, and the Party and Mass Work Department, along with relevant personnel, attended the symposium. A total of 72 members of the leadership teams and research staff from the Institute of Geology and the General Institute of Chemical Geology participated in the meeting both on-site and via video link.