VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--High-level business meetings between Vancouver’s St. Elias Mines Ltd., (SLI - TSX: V) and the Chinese government this month could pave the way for Chinese investment into the company’s gold-mining operations.
St. Elias representatives met with high-ranking Chinese officials and investors to discuss China’s growing economy and its commodities interests globally. The visit included an official reception at the Great Hall of the People, the political hub of Beijing.
St. Elias Vice President Murry Braucht and Director Duncan Bain met Dec. 12 with Dr. Yang Mengxin, director of the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange and a highly respected Chinese investor and philanthropist. The meeting was followed that evening by a reception at the Great Hall of the People hosted by Peng Fang, director of the Office of Foreign Affairs for the National People's Congress.
The visit wrapped up Dec. 13 with a discussion about St. Elias’ operations and development plans in Peru with Madame Zheng Han, chairwoman of Beijing Micro Cleaner Biotechnology.
The meetings, arranged by Launchpad Asia, LLC and NAI Interactive, were crucial in establishing St. Elias as a bona fide operation for Chinese investors to consider, said Chad Lewis, Launchpad Asia’s managing director of North America.
“By meeting with officials ranked this high in the system, we were able to secure approvals for investment companies across China to look at St. Elias for investment as well as secure approval to apply for listing in Asia,” Lewis said.
The meeting’s impact was almost immediate, Lewis said. By the time the St. Elias delegation returned from its trip, Launchpad Asia had fielded more than two dozen inquiries from Chinese investment firms and brokerage companies seeking meetings with St. Elias.
“Launchpad Asia LLC and NAI Interactive have provided opportunities in China far beyond our expectations, for which we are deeply grateful,” Braucht said. “We, as representatives of St Elias Mines, look forward to our future involvement with China with great anticipation, expecting benefits for all companies and individuals involved.
Bain added, “This visit and the high-level contacts we have made through Chad Lewis at Launchpad Asia and Gilbert Chan at NAI Interactive have opened many new doors for us throughout China. We look forward with great excitement to going back in the very near future to tell the St. Elias gold story to major Chinese investors.”
Braucht and Bain, who traveled to China to attend a mining conference in Shenzhen, were hosted by Chan of NAI Interactive, from Vancouver, prior to their time in Beijing with Launchpad Asia.
About St. Elias Mines Ltd.
St. Elias is a Vancouver-based mining operations company focusing on the acquisition and development of high-potential gold properties in the most prolific regions of the world with particular attention to gold-mining exploration in Peru. St. Elias utilizes option/joint venture participation to fund the exploration and development of certain of its gold projects as well as spinning off mineral properties into new companies and making properties available to gold-producing companies for acquisition. www.steliasmines.com.
About Launchpad Asia, LLC
Launchpad Asia is an international business development firm specializing in rapid-growth and expansion strategies for both companies seeking to expand into the China market as well as expanding China companies into the United States. Industries of focus include aviation, mining, automotive, green/environmentally friendly, remediation and infrastructure. www.Launchpad-Asia.com.