[Two Sessions Voice] CPPCC National Committee Member, CCD Party Secretary and Chairman Duan Xiangdong: Empowering High-Quality Development of Non-Ferrous Metals Industry with Artificial Intelligence

Empowering the Non-Ferrous Metals Industry with Artificial Intelligence

Non-ferrous metals are vital raw materials for the nation’s infrastructure and a key support for building a manufacturing powerhouse, developing emerging industries, and future industries. After years of development, China’s non-ferrous metals industry system has become increasingly complete, with significant improvements in technological equipment levels. It is now at a critical stage of shifting from scale expansion to quality and efficiency, from factor-driven growth to innovation-driven development. As the core engine of a new technological revolution, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industry fundamentals with unprecedented depth and breadth, driving paradigm shifts in research and development, restructuring production organization, and upgrading management decision-making systems.

This year’s National Two Sessions and government work report have clearly outlined plans to deepen “AI+” initiatives and promote large-scale commercialization of AI in key industries. The “14th Five-Year Plan” for national economic and social development emphasizes advancing digital China and enhancing intelligent digital development, providing major policy opportunities for accelerating digital and intelligent transformation in the non-ferrous metals sector. We must seize this historic window, using “AI+” as a key lever to reshape R&D paradigms, enable full-chain collaboration, optimize industry ecosystems, and accelerate the cultivation of new productive forces in non-ferrous metals, thereby supporting high-quality industry development.

1. Reshaping R&D paradigms with AI to overcome key core technologies. We will deepen AI applications in material design, process optimization, and intelligent equipment control through machine learning, scientific computing, and intelligent agents. Building smart research platforms and high-quality data sets will shorten R&D cycles and reduce testing costs, accelerating breakthroughs in high-end products such as corrosion-resistant metals and electronic-grade pure metals. This will facilitate a paradigm shift from “experience-based trial and error” to “data-driven” innovation. We will strengthen industry-university-research collaboration, jointly establishing industry data sets and R&D platforms with universities and research institutes to enhance original innovation and the transformation of research outcomes.

2. Using AI to revitalize industry and build a modern industrial system. We will promote deep integration of AI across the entire chain—from mining and smelting to processing and recycling—applying it in industrial design, pilot testing, production, and operations. The goal is to develop smart mines, intelligent factories, and green smelting benchmarks, achieving simultaneous cost reduction, quality improvement, efficiency gains, and carbon reduction. AI will also be integrated with supply chain management to improve supply stability, market responsiveness, and cost control. Additionally, we will actively explore new tracks such as AI+新能源 (new energy), new materials, and quantum technology innovation to cultivate a “second growth curve.”

3. Optimizing the industry ecosystem with AI to foster industry transformation. Strengthening top-level industry design, supporting the iteration and upgrading of industry large models and standards, and building trusted data spaces will break down data silos. Promoting cross-company, cross-region, and cross-level secure data sharing and collaborative governance will create an industry ecosystem characterized by government guidance, industry associations facilitating, enterprise leadership, and multi-party participation. In 2024, Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) and the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association jointly launched the industry’s first AI large model, “Kun An,” which has already been applied in over 70 high-value scenarios covering geological exploration, mineral extraction, smelting, processing, and recycling. Chalco is committed to promoting “Kun An” across the industry through industry alliances, academia-industry-research collaborations, and other channels, strengthening AI technology sharing and exchange, fostering collaborative innovation, and supporting industry transformation and high-quality development. This will accelerate the cultivation of new productive forces.

(Author: Duan Xiangdong, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Chalco)

Source: China Nonferrous Metals News

Reprinted from: Today’s Chalco

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