Binzhou Aluminum Association Completes Leadership Transition; Zhang Bo Appointed as Honorary President, Cui Lixin as President

More than 300 participants attended the conference, including all member representatives of Binzhou Aluminum Industry Association and guests from various industry associations such as China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association, China Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Industry Association, Henan Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association, Shanxi Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association, Hubei Aluminum Industry Association, Gansu Society for Metals, Shanghai Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association, Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shanghai Aluminum Industry Association, Baise Aluminum Industry Association, Jiangxi Copper Industry Association, and Huolin Gol High-Tech Aluminum-Based New Materials Industry Association.

Present at the conference were Wen Xianjun, former Vice President of China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association and Honorary President of Shandong Aluminum Industry Association; Li Defeng, Deputy Secretary-General of China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association; Jin Haiming, Secretary-General of China Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Industry Association; Du Yujie, Vice Mayor of Binzhou; Zhang Qian, Secretary of the CPC Zouping Municipal Committee; leaders of the Metallurgical Coking Group of Shandong Provincial Special Office for Chemical Industry; relevant responsible persons from the Social Work Department of the CPC Binzhou Municipal Committee, Binzhou Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Binzhou Municipal Bureau of Finance, and Binzhou Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs; as well as heads of the High-End Aluminum Industry Special Work Team of Binzhou and aluminum industry special work teams of various counties (cities) and districts. The conference was hosted by He Faping, Vice President and Secretary-General of Binzhou Aluminum Industry Association.

Zhang Qian, Secretary of the CPC Zouping Municipal Committee, Delivered a Speech

In his speech, Zhang Qian stated that Zouping has thrived and prospered because of the aluminum industry. A single piece of bauxite is refined into high-quality materials here, forging a 100-billion-yuan-level industrial cluster. This has driven Zouping to become a national high-tech industrialization base for high-end aluminum materials and a national demonstration base for new-type industrialization, making it a benchmark of "new-quality productive forces" in Binzhou City. Zhang Qian reviewed the development course of the aluminum industry and looked forward to its new chapter from three aspects:

First, standing at the forefront with a magnificent journey – unyielding, arduous yet extraordinary. Led by leading enterprises such as Weiqiao Pioneering Group and Innovation Group, a large number of aluminum enterprises have faced malicious suppression from the West, turbulent international situations, and impacts of typhoons and the pandemic. They have successfully coped with fluctuations in aluminum prices, promoted industrial upgrading, gained the pricing power in the aluminum industry and won the right to speak in the sector, making Zouping the world’s most competitive aluminum industry base.Second, embarking on a new journey through transformation and leapfrogging – advancing toward innovation, lightweight development and green growth. Faced with industrial changes and market challenges, a large number of aluminum enterprises have vigorously promoted industrial transformation and upgrading, built a full-chain ecological closed loop from energy supply to production, and stood firm at the forefront of the times with a pioneering posture.Third, joining hands between the government and enterprises to realize grand plans – becoming more solid, more dynamic and stronger. Zouping adheres to the development concept of "making enterprises and entrepreneurs feel at ease", places enterprise services in a more important position, and makes great efforts to solve long-standing problems affecting enterprise development. The government and enterprises have worked together in synergy to fully activate new drivers, seize new development tracks, create new advantages, and stimulate the vigorous vitality of the aluminum industry’s development.

Zhang Qian pointed out that Binzhou Aluminum Industry Association has been established for more than 10 years, which coincides with the critical period of development, exploration and transformation of the aluminum industry. Under the coordination and linkage of Binzhou Aluminum Industry Association and the leadership of enterprises such as Weiqiao Pioneering Group and Innovation Group, the aluminum industry has achieved continuous refinement and leapfrog development, injecting strong impetus into Zouping’s economic and social development. Entering the new decade, it is expected that Binzhou Aluminum Industry Association will continue to take the helm and lead the way, and a large number of aluminum enterprises will keep forging ahead courageously, sailing forward with high spirits and singing loudly on the new journey of the aluminum industry.

Entrusted by Fan Shunke, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association and Chairman of China Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Industry Association, Jin Haiming extended congratulations on the convening of the conference on behalf of China Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Industry Association.

Jin Haiming pointed out that as the top province in China's aluminum industry, Shandong has always led the industry's development with a "grand aluminum industry" pattern. Binzhou, a core sector of Shandong's aluminum industry, has built a complete industrial chain from raw materials and electrolytic aluminum to deep processing, with Weiqiao Pioneering Group and Innovation Group as the leaders. This has formed the industrial consensus that "the world's aluminum industry looks to China, and China's aluminum industry looks to Binzhou". In recent years, Binzhou's aluminum industry has actively explored areas such as the construction of a recycled aluminum system, the coordinated development of aluminum-electricity-energy, and the comprehensive utilization of red mud, providing a "Binzhou Solution" for the green and low-carbon development of China's aluminum industry. He hoped that Binzhou's aluminum industry would take this leadership transition as an opportunity to continue leveraging its cluster advantages and focus on three key directions: First, strengthen scientific and technological innovation to foster new-quality productive forces. Focus on directions such as lightweight, high strength and toughness, and high-value utilization of recycled aluminum, enhance basic research and development as well as achievement transformation, and create more "single-item champion" products. Second, promote green recycling to build a sustainable system. Accelerate the establishment of a full-chain system covering recycled aluminum recycling, dismantling, melting and casting, and application, advance the optimization of energy structure and carbon emission control, and build a green aluminum industry demonstration zone. Third, deepen open collaboration to enhance cluster competitiveness. Strengthen cross-regional and cross-industry cooperation, promote the large-scale application of aluminum materials in new scenarios such as new energy, ships and marine industries, and enhance the brand influence of "Binzhou Aluminum".

Jin Haiming stated that in the future, China Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Industry Association will continue to support the development of Binzhou's aluminum industry as always, strengthen cooperation with Shandong Aluminum Industry Association and Binzhou Aluminum Industry Association, and make concerted efforts in standard formulation, technology connection, market development, and industry self-regulation to jointly build an innovative, open, healthy and orderly industrial ecosystem.

The conference reviewed and adopted the work report delivered by He Faping on behalf of the 2nd Council. The report pointed out that over the past five years, against the backdrop of profound and complex changes in the international and domestic situations, Binzhou's aluminum industry has achieved leapfrog development amid severe tests. Faced with multiple challenges such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, global economic downturn, energy structure adjustment, and intensified trade frictions, under the strong leadership of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government and the joint efforts of all member units, Binzhou's aluminum industry has closely focused on the direction of "high-endization, greenization, clustering, and internationalization", overcome difficulties and forged ahead, pushing the industry to a new level and further consolidating its advantageous position in the national and even global aluminum industry. The 2nd Council and the Secretariat have closely adhered to the purpose of "serving members, serving the industry, and serving the government", fulfilled their duties and taken proactive actions to provide strong guarantees for the healthy development of the industry. The specific work includes: playing the role of a bridge and link to optimize the industrial development environment; strengthening precise and efficient services to help enterprises alleviate difficulties; building diversified exchange platforms to promote industrial chain collaboration; enhancing industry self-regulation to maintain a sound market order; and focusing on information publicity and guidance to improve the industry's influence.

Cui Lixin, President of Binzhou Aluminum Industry Association and Chairman of Shandong Innovation Group Co., Ltd., presented the letter of appointment to Lu Jiyan.

On-site voting

Cui Lixin, President of Binzhou Aluminum Industry Association and Chairman of Shandong Innovation Group Co., Ltd., Delivered a Speech

In his speech, Cui Lixin stated that we are currently in an era of profound transformation, where the global industrial chain structure is accelerating its restructuring, and China's economy is comprehensively entering a new stage of high-quality development. Green and low-carbon development, as well as intelligent manufacturing, are no longer choices but the only way forward for industrial development. As the top pillar industry of Binzhou, the city's aluminum industry has a solid foundation, while also facing the urgent tasks of transformation and upgrading, as well as improving quality and efficiency.

Faced with new situations, new tasks, and new requirements, he said that during his new term, he will work together with all colleagues of the Council, under the leadership of Zhang Bo, President of Shandong Aluminum Industry Association, and firmly rely on all member units to fulfill his duties conscientiously and work diligently, with a focus on continuing efforts in four key areas: First, focus on the service purpose to enhance the association's effectiveness; second, concentrate efforts on collaborative innovation to drive industrial upgrading; third, aggregate cluster advantages to expand development space; fourth, unite around industry self-regulation to standardize market order.

Cui Lixin stated that he will continue to guide member enterprises to firmly establish awareness of quality, brand, and integrity, jointly abide by national laws, regulations, and industry norms, strengthen internal coordination and self-regulation within the industry, resolutely safeguard a fair competitive market environment, promote the formation of an industrial ecosystem featuring orderly competition and win-win cooperation, and work together to protect and enhance the "golden brand" of Binzhou's aluminum industry.

On behalf of the CPC Binzhou Municipal Committee and Binzhou Municipal Government, Du Yujie extended congratulations on the convening of the conference and the newly elected leadership team of the association, and expressed sincere gratitude to the entrepreneurs, experts and all practitioners who have cared about and supported the development of Binzhou's aluminum industry for a long time.

When reviewing the development course of the past five years, Du Yujie pointed out that Binzhou's aluminum industry has advanced courageously amid challenges and refined itself in transformation. It has successfully responded to multiple tests such as capacity transfer, market fluctuations and transformation and upgrading, and delivered an outstanding report on high-quality development. He elaborated on three remarkable achievements in detail: First, the industrial scale has continued to expand. In 2024, the main business income of Binzhou's aluminum industry exceeded 471.1 billion yuan, with a growth of nearly 20% in five years, consolidating its important position in the national aluminum industry landscape. Second, the pace of transformation and upgrading has accelerated. High-end R&D platforms such as the Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing for the Aluminum Industry have been established, the proportion of high-value-added products has increased, and the cluster development has made great strides toward high-endization, intelligentization and greenization. Third, the pattern of cluster development has been optimized. Driven by leading enterprises, a complete industrial chain has been formed. The lightweight aluminum new material cluster has been successfully selected into the first batch of advanced manufacturing clusters in Shandong Province, kicking off a new journey toward becoming a national-level cluster.

He put forward five hopes for the work of the new council: The council should play a good role as a "traction engine". First, it should show new achievements in "serving enterprises and empowering the industry". Second, it should demonstrate new responsibilities in "providing suggestions and assisting government governance". Third, it should play a new role in "pooling efforts and co-building an ecosystem". Government departments at all levels should act as "service providers". First, they should optimize services to create a first-class business environment. Second, they should implement targeted policies to provide strong policy support. Third, they should strengthen supervision to guide the standardized development of the industry. The majority of aluminum enterprises should bravely take on the important task of "new forces". First, they should focus on their core businesses to strengthen and optimize the real economy. Second, they should be brave in innovation to create new drivers and advantages for development. Third, they should pursue green and low-carbon development and take the path of sustainable development.

Su Yanbo, an electrolytic aluminum researcher at Beijing Aladdin Zhongying Business Consulting Co., Ltd., delivered a special report titled "Energy Conservation, Carbon Reduction, Transformation and Upgrading: The Electrolytic Aluminum Industry Accelerates High-Quality Development".

Yu Shaoxue, Senior Analyst of the Aluminum Industry at Shanghai Nonferrous Metals Network Information Technology Co., Ltd., delivered a special report titled "From Lightweighting to Low-Carbonization: Core Insights into the Development of the Aluminum Processing Industry".