Gan Yong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 15th China Baotou Rare Earth Industry Forum. [Photo by Anjis/For goinnermongolia.com.cn]

The 15th China Baotou Rare Earth Industry Forum and the Annual Conference of the Chinese Society of China Rare Earth 2023 opened today at Baotou International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The forum was attended by more than 1,800 government leaders, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, experts from related industry associations, and representatives of enterprises in related industries.

At the opening ceremony of the 15th China Baotou Rare Earth Industry Forum, the "Outstanding Engineer Award of China Rare Earth Society 2022" is awarded. [Photo by Anjis/For goinnermongolia.com.cn]

It is reported that the rare earth industry in Baotou has experienced development for decades of years. In 1927, geologist Ding Daoheng discovered the Bayan Obo deposit in Baotou, but old China needed help to explore and exploit rare earth. It was not until the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 that rare earth materials in Baotou, which had been sleeping for millions of years, were developed into valuable materials for serving mankind.

Inner Mongolia autonomous region will build the most extensive rare earth new material base in the country and the world's leading rare earth application base, indicating the direction for Baotou to promote the high-quality development of the rare earth industry.

Baotou will strive to reach the output value of the rare earth industry of more than 100 billion yuan ($13.71 billion) by 2025.

Rare earth reserves, smelting capacity, and waste recycling in Baotou are the world's highest. By 2025, they aim to produce over 200,000 metric tons of smelting and separation and 65,000 tons of waste recycling, with an output value of more than 50 billion yuan from the rare earth industry.

At the same time, the city will achieve rare earth new material output value of more than 30 billion yuan rare earth application industry output value of more than 20 billion yuan.

In addition, the city will promote major scientific and technological innovation, adding more than 20 innovation platforms and forming more than 20 essential innovation achievements by 2025.

Some leading enterprises in the rare earth industry are awarded at the event. [Photo by Anjis/For goinnermongolia.com.cn]