World Gold Council: China plays an increasingly important role in the global gold market

China News Service, Shanghai, September 4 (Gao Zhimiao) The 2026 World Gold Association Hard Pure Gold Tasting Salon was held in Shanghai on the 4th. On the eve of the salon, Terry Heymann, chief strategy officer of the World Gold Council, said in an interview with China News Service that China, as the world's largest gold producer, consumer and importer, plays an increasingly important role in the global gold market. From green smart mines to digital gold innovation, China's gold industry is leading the global gold industry landscape in multiple ways.

The UK-based World Gold Council has been in China for more than 20 years. He Tairui believes that China is an indispensable force in the global gold market and an important source of technological innovation. "Many innovations are happening in China, and many technologies are promoted by Chinese technology companies and implemented by Chinese mining companies. For example, the transformation of self-driving vehicles and the use of more advanced data analysis technology to accurately understand the distribution of gold resources and improve mining efficiency."

The technological innovation of Chinese enterprises has not only blossomed domestically, but has also begun to extend overseas. He Tairui said that Chinese companies are increasingly participating in the international gold market, and Chinese mining companies are also accelerating their overseas deployment. "Take Zijin Mining as an example. Its operations in Ghana are bringing new technologies, interacting with communities in new ways, and injecting new vitality into existing mines." He Tairui said that these companies not only export capital, but also bring innovative technologies and management experience to other markets. "This is China's deeper contribution to the global gold industry."

China has also shown strong innovation vitality in the lower reaches of the gold industry chain. He Terui pointed out that colleagues from major jewelry markets such as India and the Middle East have made special trips to China to learn about technologies such as hard gold and think about how to apply these technologies to other markets. This in itself shows that China’s influence in the gold industry chain is being fully extended.

Talking about the digital transformation of the gold market, He Tairui believes that China has been at the forefront of the world in exploring the field of digital gold. He introduced that the World Gold Council is promoting the "gold as a service" plan to build a bridge between digital assets and physical gold. "We hope to learn from the innovative experience of the Chinese market and help bring these experiences to other markets around the world."

He Terui said that the World Gold Council will continue to deepen cooperation with the Chinese gold industry. "China's experience in technological innovation, standard setting and market opening is injecting new vitality into the global gold industry. We are full of confidence in the prospects of the Chinese market."