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Driving Sustainable Development of Critical Minerals and Deepening Multilateral Industrial Cooperation | UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller Visits GEM
Publish Date：2026-09-05 Hits：769
As the global energy transition continues to accelerate, critical minerals—the cornerstone of the new energy industry—have grown increasingly strategic in importance. Competition in the international critical minerals sector has intensified, and the stability and security of global supply chains face multiple challenges: the high environmental cost of primary mineral extraction and development; inadequate industrial infrastructure and weak technological foundations in some resource-rich regions, which hinder efficient and green mineral development; escalating geopolitical tensions and exclusionary policies such as trade protectionism and export controls adopted by certain countries, which exacerbate the risks of fragmentation and bloc formation in the global mineral supply chain; and the incomplete establishment of a global system for critical mineral recycling, compounded by continuously escalating ESG compliance requirements across environmental governance, labor rights, and other dimensions—all of which place mounting pressure on the green and low-carbon transformation of the entire industrial chain.
In response to these new dynamics and challenges surrounding global critical minerals, GEM has closely aligned with global green development trends and actively deepened its strategic cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Focusing on the green upgrade of the entire critical minerals industrial chain, GEM has been deeply engaged in responsible mineral development practices, global promotion of advanced recycling technologies, industrial talent cultivation, and international industrial coordination, working hand in hand to build a safe, stable, green, low-carbon, and mutually beneficial global critical minerals industrial system, thereby laying a solid industrial foundation for the sustainable development of global resources.
On April 16, 2026, Mr. Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and his delegation visited GEM's Shenzhen headquarters for a tour and exchange. Professor Xu Kaihua, Chairman of GEM, warmly received and accompanied the delegation during the meeting. The two sides held in-depth discussions on topics including the recycling of critical mineral resources, the disposal of retired power batteries, and the construction of a global circular economy system, reaching multiple cooperation consensuses and opening a new chapter of collaboration.
▲A warm welcome to UNIDO Director General Mr. Müller and his delegation at GEM
At the Circular Economy Exhibition Center, Chairman Xu Kaihua began with the observation that "the wheel of history is rolling toward the new energy era" and elaborated on the national strategic significance of the principle that "waste is a resource placed in the wrong place." He noted that in the face of intensifying global competition for critical metal resources, GEM is committed to building a comprehensive global recycling system and has established an industry-leading internet-based recycling network platform in central and eastern China, forming a mature "urban mining system." Addressing Mr. Müller's questions regarding regulations for the recycling of retired power batteries and solutions for large-scale battery disposal, Chairman Xu explicitly stated that China has successively introduced comprehensive regulatory frameworks, providing institutional safeguards for the standardized disposal and efficient recycling of retired power batteries. GEM has built advanced power battery recycling and disposal facilities across the country and established stable, designated recycling partnerships with over 1,100 vehicle manufacturers and power battery enterprises along the global supply chain, offering effective solutions for China's retired power battery recycling. Mr. Müller expressed his appreciation for Chairman Xu's outstanding contributions to the circular economy and recognized GEM as a model enterprise in China's circular economy sector.
▲UNIDO Director General Mr. Müller and his delegation tour the Circular Economy Exhibition Center
During the discussion, Chairman Xu Kaihua first expressed his sincere gratitude to UNIDO for its strong support for Chinese enterprises and China's circular economy, praising the Director General for "holding the world in his heart and embracing a green vision for the planet." He stated that GEM, as a representative enterprise of China's circular economy, is willing to work under the unified planning and leadership of relevant UN organizations to promote the continuous improvement of the global system for recycling critical metal resources and "let the world recycle."
Mr. Müller highly commended Chairman Xu's strategic vision and industrial commitment, describing GEM as "a pioneer and pathfinder in the circular economy." He emphasized that the environment and resources concern the shared destiny of the global community, and UNIDO is willing to deepen cooperation with GEM to help promote its advanced technologies and operational models worldwide. Subsequently, the two sides held in-depth exchanges and reached preliminary consensus on cooperation in the construction of GEM's new overseas IGIP Industrial Park and joint initiatives in international talent development.
▲GEM-UNIDO discussion and exchange meeting
Director General Mr. Müller's visit to GEM was simultaneously reported and highly commended across multiple UNIDO platforms, including its official website, LinkedIn account, and official WeChat public account: "A core component of this visit is to engage with leading high-tech enterprises in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including GEM, to advance business cooperation and facilitate green and digital industrial transformation. This not only enables the validation of innovative technologies, strengthens talent skill development, and promotes local industrial value addition, but also creates a win-win situation for the sustainable development of developing countries and leading technology enterprises."
▲Text and video coverage on UNIDO's official website and LinkedIn account
This exchange further consolidated the strategic cooperative relationship between GEM and UNIDO, carrying significant implications for improving international cooperation mechanisms on critical minerals, building a global recycling system, upgrading overseas industrial parks, and promoting circular economy practices worldwide. Looking ahead, GEM will continue to deepen its coordination and collaboration with UNIDO, leveraging its accumulated expertise, talent, and models in the green development and recycling of critical minerals to help enhance the resilience of global critical mineral supply chains, empower the high-quality development of the global circular economy, and contribute the wisdom and commitment of a Chinese enterprise to the world's green energy transition.