Green mines focus on eco-restoration

China has built more than 5,500 green mines at or above the provincial level, marking substantial progress in its shift toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly mining model, natural resources officials said.

"Building green mines has become a common understanding among local governments, regulators, mining enterprises and the public," Dong Qingji, deputy director of the Ministry of Natural Resources' Department of Mineral Resources Protection and Supervision, said at a recent news conference.

Dong, reflecting on World Earth Day which was observed on Wednesday, said green mining requirements have been written into the Mineral Resources Law and the Ecological and Environmental Code, providing strong legal backing. A working system featuring government guidance, departmental coordination, enterprise leadership and public supervision is now largely in place.