(Yicai Global) Aug. 25 -- As China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) actively promote industrialization and urbanization, there are broad possibilities for cooperation, specifically in the mining sector, Cao Weixing, said China's Vice Minister of Land and Resources.

Cao made the remarks in a key note speech at the 2017 China-ASEAN Mining Cooperation Forum held on Aug. 24 in Nanning, the provincial capital of the southwestern Guangxi province. More than 800 politicians and businessmen from China and Southeast Asian countries attended the conference.

The global economy is gradually recovering, and the international mining market is also emerging from its recent slump, Cao added. The mining sector has always been important for economic and trade cooperation between China and Southeast Asia and a number of collaborative programs have kicked off, including some in policy coordination, information sharing, cooperative research and personnel training.

Cao identified the founding of a regional mining information port, the construction of a mining sector industrial park and the promotion of technology sharing, particularly related to ore prospecting, as three potential areas for future joint efforts.

ASEAN, established in 1967, has its headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia and comprises 10 member countries.