Strengthening Management of Security and Social Conflict Risks in Mineral Supply Chains
Notes from DCAF’s Mission to China
Chinese companies are increasingly prioritizing corporate social responsibility and ESG standards to manage overseas risks, especially in the mining sector. How can expert partners, multilateral organizations, and industry associations work together with Chinese counterparts to bridge divisions, strengthen alignment on good practices, and drive joint approaches to problem solving when it comes to fragile business contexts?
This was the top question in mind for the DCAF-ICRC Partnership as we participated in a mission to Beijing and Xiamen this past September. Building on our last engagement in May 2025, this mission focused on China’s role as a major player in global mineral supply chains and harnessing its potential to impact Chinese outward mining investments to proactively require responsible security management and social conflict prevention.
So how do we drive this alignment? First by ensuring open communication and dialogue. On 21 September, DCAF presented at the Cross-Cultural Leadership Forum within Peking University’s National School of Development. Guided by the principle “rooted in China, looking to the world”, the Forum provided an important platform for discussion and bridge-building. Drawing on DCAF’s partnership with the ICRC to promote responsible business conduct in fragile contexts, DCAF addressed the importance of a conflict prevention mindset and multistakeholder engagement for Chinese companies ‘going global’ through the Belt and Road Initiative.Nearly 3’000 participants joined in-person and online on a Sunday evening, which attests to the growing prominence of the topic for Chinese companies ‘going global’.
From 23-25 September in Xiamen, the DCAF-ICRC Partnership joined government representatives, business actors, academia and expert partners at the 2025 International Forum on Sustainable Mineral Supply Chains (SMISC). Hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals Importers and Exporters (CCCMC) and co-organized with organizations including CMOC Group, the Alliance of Chinese Business in Africa for Social Responsibilities, Huayou Cobalt, ITG, Mysteel, and ECV, the event focused on forging inclusive, resilient and sustainable mineral supply chains. DCAF-ICRC had two main roles in the SMISC Forum:
- Officially launching dedicated Chinese language training tools that support companies to manage security risks in complex overseas environments. Tailored to both executive and operational levels, the training modules were developed by DCAF-ICRC, CCCMC, Renmin University and ACBASR. In ensuing discussions with participants, DCAF-ICRC identified that companies from diverse sectors are interested in contextualizing and implementing the modules at their headquarters and in field operations.
- Exploring security risks, policies, tools and trends in a deep-dive side event that focused on overseas security management for Chinese companies. The event was critical in driving dialogue and raising awareness of DCAF-ICRC tools and support for Chinese stakeholders and there was significant recognition of the need for more peer learning mechanisms among companies.
DCAF’s Business & Security team works with CCCMC, ACBASR, CMOC Group and other partners in China to promote and strengthen the application of guidance on responsible business conduct for Chinese companies operating in fragile contexts. The mission built on DCAF’s long term engagement in China – Explore our factsheet here.
