20世纪伊始，力拓就从美国向中国出口硼砂，作为制造玻璃的原材料。

80年代，中国改革开放的大幕正式拉开，力拓也迎来了在华发展的新契机。

入华以来，力拓分别与中钢、宝钢、中铝、五矿等中国大型中央企业确立了合作关系。

中国也已成为力拓最重要的市场。

CDF Voice: What was it like for your company to enter the China market in the early days?

Jacques: Rio Tinto’s partnership with China extends to the start of the last century, when we started supplying customers here with borax, from our mine in California.   

There’s a great story here. 

So, borax is white – the product is white.  But more than 100 years ago, our Chinese customers wanted brown borax – they thought it was “stronger.”

So guess what – we coloured our borax brown! A special blend, just for China.

Since then we have been pioneering our partnership in China.

In 1983, we were among the first foreign mining companies, to establish a China office.

And we set up the Channar joint venture with Sinosteel in 1987, which paved the way for co-operation between China and Australia.

They were built on the vision of our pioneers, from both Rio Tinto and China.

And the trust and friendships built over the decades, have become the foundation of our business today.

CDF Voice: Tell us about Rio Tinto’s current business in China.

Jacques: Today China is our largest customer, a growing supplier of goods and service to our operations, and home to our largest shareholder.

Our relationship with China has evolved from one-direction trade to a win-win partnership at multiple fronts.

Let me give you an example.

Fifteen years ago, Rio Tinto purchased almost nothing from China. 

Over the past four years alone, Rio Tinto has purchased about $5 billion in goods from China for use in our operations around the world.

Today we also have a partnership with Minmetals to find world-class mineral deposits in China;

We have a sustainable development executive training partnership with SASAC, to support China’s Go-global strategy;

We have partnered with Tsinghua University, to address some of the world’s biggest challenges, like climate change and sustainability.

And we will continue to pioneer our China partnership towards win-win outcomes for our shared future.

CDF Voice: Over the past 40 years or so, what changes have you witnessed in China?

Jacques: China’s incredible rise over the past decades is perhaps the most important example of what can happen when an economy partners with others, and opens up to global markets.

The rapid pace of change, the big increases in productivity, the technological progress that today allows China to compete at all stages of the value chain – It is very hard not to be impressed.

CDF Voice: What's your comment or vision related to China's future socioeconomic development?

Jacques: We’re excited to see that China is determined to reform and further opening-up.

We welcome this trend as we believe an increasingly integrated global economy would create economic growth, better jobs, and more dynamic societies.

We are committed to joining hands with our Chinese partners for a shared vision.

CDF Voice: Your message to the CDF's 20th Anniversary?

Jacques: I want to congratulate CDF on its 20th anniversary.

The first forum, back in the year 2000, was attended by only 10 multinational companies. And Rio Tinto was one of them.

Today CDF has become a truly world-class event that has a real impact on the economic development and social progress in China and the rest of the world.

We are very proud to have supported this great initiative since the very beginning.

And I’m looking forward to another year of great success.