The China Mining Congress & Expo (CMCE) 2009 will kick off on Oct 20 at the Binhai International Exhibition Center in northern China's Tianjin municipality, the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) said.

The three-day event is hailed as one of the top four events for the world mining industry and one of the largest platforms for global mineral exploration and trade.

The CMCE 2009 will include three major parts: a mining summit, mining industry exhibition and featured activities such as Mining Talents Day.

Mining ministers, experts and entrepreneurs from China and other resource-rich countries will discuss China's mining policies and potential,how to improve the investment environment in the mining sector and other major issues at the summit, according to the Ministry of Land and Resources.

The Expo will showcase mining enterprises, financial institutions, evaluation and consulting companies, mining technology providers and equipment manufacturers to facilitate cooperation in the fields of mining exploration, development, investment and technologies.

The CMCE, founded in 1999, is hosted by the MLR annually and co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission.

China boasts abundant mineral resources—a total of 171 kinds of minerals have so far been discovered in the country, of which 158 have proven reserves. The country's imports of mineral products have increased sharply in recent years as its manufacturing industry maintains a robust growth.

By 2010, China may need to import 57 percent of its iron ore, 70 percent of copper concentrate and 80 percent of alumina, said Zhang Jian, president of China Nonferrous Metal Mining Corp, the country's top investor in overseas mining projects.

By Guo Changdong