China discovered a total of 124 new mineral deposits in 2023, marking significant progress in both oil, gas and mineral exploration, according to a report released by the Ministry of Natural Resources on Tuesday.
According to the report "China Mineral Resources 2024", by the end of 2023 China's coal reserves increased by 5.6 percent compared to the end of 2022, and the remaining technically recoverable reserves of oil and natural gas increased by 1.2 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.
The reserves of metal minerals increased by more than 30 percent, and the reserves of nonmetallic minerals also increased significantly, said the report.
The report highlighted major breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration within large basins such as the Tarim Oilfield, the Junggar Basin and the Bohai Oilfield. Notable progress has also been made in the exploration of minerals such as coal, copper, gold, lithium and phosphorus.
"China's investment in mineral exploration has seen growth for three consecutive years, discovering 124 new mineral deposits in 2023. The country's supply of major mineral products increased steadily, energy output hit a record high, and the energy structure continued to optimize," said Yu Haiyang, director of the Strategic Planning Division of the ministry's Mineral Resources Protection and Supervision Department.
China discovers 124 new mineral deposits in 2023: report
As vote counting begun following Ireland's general election on Friday, exit polls show a neck-and-neck race between the country's three major political parties, with Sinn Fein, the largest opposition party, taking a narrow lead.
Voting concluded at 22:00 on Friday night and counting began on Saturday morning as Ireland's 3.8 million voters choose new members of the 174-seat lower chamber of parliament, the Dail.
While the final outcome may take several days to determine, an exit poll of some 5,000 people on Friday has given a clear indication of the result.
The poll puts Sinn Fein on 21.1 percent, just ahead of Fine Gael on 21 percent, and Fianna Fail on 19.5 percent.
For over a century since Ireland's independence, every government has been led by one of two main political parties--Fianna Fail and Fine Gael-- both seen as centre-right parties. However, the 2020 general election marked a shift, when Sinn Fein emerged as the second-largest party and largest opposition force in parliament.
Sinn Fein, a left-wing, radical party, has a significant edge among younger voters and low-income groups. It advocates for social reforms and champions the idea of a unified Ireland by any means, including the use of force.
Political analysts suggest that under Ireland's electoral system known as proportional representation, it is unlikely any single party will secure an outright majority in parliament. While Sinn Fein is expected to win a narrow majority of votes in this election, forming a coalition government afterwards remains a challenge for the party.
Some analysts believe that if Sinn Fein successfully forms a coalition with other parties, the issue of Irish reunification could shift from the fringes to the center of the country's political agenda.
Sinn Fein holds slim lead in Irish general election: exit poll
