Highlights
- Gree Electric Appliances chairwoman Dong Mingzhu visited Baogang Group.
- The visit aimed to explore deeper cooperation in rare earth materials and next-generation manufacturing technologies.
- The strategic visit highlights Gree's intent to integrate upstream into China's critical materials ecosystem.
- The visit potentially accelerates homegrown industrial supply chain innovation.
- Dong emphasized the critical role of rare earth materials in product development.
- She called for joint R&D and coordinated supply chain innovation with Baogang Group.
In a high-profile corporate exchange on August 4, Dong Mingzhu (opens in a new tab), Chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, visited Baogang Group (opens in a new tab) in Baotou to explore deeper cooperation in rare earth materials and next-generation manufacturing technologies. The visit signals Gree’s intent to integrate further upstream into China’s critical materials ecosystem—potentially accelerating innovation in homegrown industrial supply chains.
The Company
Gree Electric Appliances (opens in a new tab) (Gree) is nearly a $30 billion per annum global leader in the air conditioning and home appliance industry, headquartered in Zhuhai, China. Founded in 1991, Gree has grown from a small air conditioner manufacturer into a diversified, technology-driven global enterprise with a wide range of products and a significant international presence.
Gree Electric is a state-owned enterprise. Specifically, it is controlled by the city of Zhuhai (opens in a new tab) through the Zhuhai Gree Group Co., Ltd. The Zhuhai Gree Group, in turn, is owned and supervised by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government (opens in a new tab). While the majority stake is held by the city government, other entities like Hebei Jinghai Investment (opens in a new tab), China Securities Finance (opens in a new tab), and private equity funds also own shares.
The Tour
During the tour, Dong visited the Baotou Rare Earth Museum, where she reviewed the history, geology, processing techniques, and advanced applications of rare earth elements. Discussions centered on rare earths’ pivotal role in modern industry, particularly in new materials and clean energy technologies, reinforcing the notion of rare earths as the “vitamins of industry.”
Dong Mingzhu, Chairwoman, Gree Electric Appliances
Baogang Group’s General Manager Li Xiao briefed Dong and her team on Baogang’s dual focus on steel and rare earths, including their expanding role in national strategic projects. He emphasized Baogang’s mission as a “pillar force” in building out China’s dual rare earth bases—one for mining and separation, the other for advanced materials R&D. Li outlined the group’s strategy of scenario-driven materials innovation aligned with the needs of downstream high-end manufacturers like Gree.
Dong praised Baogang’s deep expertise in rare earths, calling them a core enabler of performance breakthroughs in everything from air conditioners to advanced batteries. “Gree’s product innovation,” she noted, “cannot be separated from materials science.” She expressed interest in co-developing rare earth functional materials for applications in clean energy and advanced consumer electronics, urging both sides to pursue joint R&D and coordinated supply chain innovation.
Why It Matters to Western Audiences
- This visit highlights how Chinese industrial champions are moving closer to rare earth sources to secure supply and accelerate vertical integration—a playbook Western manufacturers have been slower to follow.
- Gree, a top global appliance brand, is aligning product design with upstream material development, a model that could shape future innovation ecosystems.
- The collaboration further cements Baogang’s role not just as a miner, but as a technology partner in China's state-led push to dominate rare earths from mine to market.
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