Xinyu, a city in Jiangxi province, China, has become a focal point for discussions on sustainable industrial development, drawing international attention for its evolving lithium-processing industry. On Thursday, approximately 120 political, academic, and business representatives—including former Ethiopian president Mulatu Teshome—gathered in Xinyu for a dialogue centered on high-quality industrial growth, highlighting the city’s dual advancement in industrial capacity and environmental protection.
Returning to the region nearly 50 years after his initial visit, Teshome noted the significant transformation in Jiangxi, pointing to the coexistence of modern factories and greenery as evidence that industrial progress and environmental awareness can advance simultaneously. He emphasized that China’s experience holds valuable lessons for African nations aiming to develop green industries, advocating for cooperation based on mutual respect and shared benefits. Teshome called for enhanced partnerships between China and African countries, particularly in green energy, technology transfer, and industrial development, to enable resource-rich nations to take fuller advantage of the clean-energy value chain.
Hadji Dabo, director-general of Sierra Leone’s National Minerals Agency, supported these views, urging further integration between China’s industrial capabilities and resource-rich regions. He stressed the importance of investing in local processing of minerals rather than focusing solely on extraction, alongside promoting technical training, educational exchanges, and higher environmental and social standards to strengthen mineral supply chains' sustainability and competitiveness.
Xinyu’s rise as a lithium-processing hub reflects these ambitions. Historically known for steelmaking, the city now plays a key role in linking global mineral resources to battery manufacturers and markets. Ganfeng Lithium, a major company based in Xinyu, has established investments spanning lithium mining, refining, battery production, and recycling. According to its 2026 interim report, Ganfeng Lithium owns a 73 percent stake in the Bombali lithium project in Sierra Leone, planning an annual mining and processing capacity of 2 million metric tons of ore, with production expected to increase starting in 2027.
The city's lithium and new energy sectors have experienced rapid growth. In the first eight months of the year, combined revenue reached 37.31 billion yuan (about $5.57 billion), marking a year-on-year increase of 90.2 percent. Lithium battery output also rose significantly, by nearly 50 percent, reaching 31.4 gigawatt-hours. These developments were recognized in the World Lithium Battery Industry Green Influence Index Annual Report (2026), which ranked Xinyu among the top eight lithium-industry cities globally, alongside Ningde and Shenzhen in China, and Perth in Australia.
The report highlighted Xinyu’s model, which integrates lithium-salt processing with battery recycling and investment in emerging technologies such as solid-state batteries. However, experts noted challenges remain in scaling new technologies from the laboratory to industrial production. He Lihua, professor at Central South University’s School of Metallurgy and Environment, remarked on the difficulties in achieving consistent quality and performance in mass-produced solid-state batteries. Ganfeng Lithium chairman Li Liangbin underscored the necessity of continued innovation to maintain competitiveness as the battery sector evolves.
The city’s industrial progress also attracted praise from international visitors, including former British lawmaker George Galloway, who commended China’s manufacturing and technological achievements and their broader economic impact.
In addition to industrial cooperation, Xinyu signed an international friendly cooperation agreement with Salta, Argentina, aiming to deepen collaboration in trade, technology, education, and culture. The agreement follows a letter of intent signed earlier in 2024, signaling growing global engagement by the city as part of its broader strategy for sustainable industrial development.