The Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE), in collaboration with representatives from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, alongside members of the Chinese and international diamond industry, convened in Beijing on Sept. 15th to sign the Beijing Declaration on Natural Diamonds and Sustainable Development.
According to De Beers, the declaration recognises the global nature of the diamond industry and acknowledges the connection from the positive socioeconomic impact felt in diamond-producing countries to China’s consumers of diamond jewellery, who are increasingly looking for authenticity and individuality in their jewellery choices.
Hosted by the SDE, the event and signing ceremony in Beijing brought together government representatives of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, with senior figures from China’s jewellery industry and the global natural diamond industry.
During the gathering, participants held in-depth exchanges on the current state of the global natural diamond industry, including consumer and retail trends in China, the socioeconomic impact of the natural diamond industry across diamond-producing countries in Africa and future industry cooperation priorities.
President of the SDE, Lin Qiang, said natural diamonds deliver profound socioeconomic benefits to Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
“As China continues its evolution as a major player in the global diamond industry, we are thrilled to lay important foundations for enhanced collaboration between China and African diamond-producing nations. Today represents a meaningful new beginning: for closer connections, deeper mutual understanding and expanded partnerships. The Shanghai Diamond Exchange will keep fulfilling its role as a platform and bridge,” he said.
“We look forward to future interactions that unlock opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation, and to bringing the authentic stories and genuine value of natural diamonds to growing numbers of Chinese consumers.”
CEO of De Beers Group, Al Cook, added that they want every diamond discovered to bring real, positive impact for the people and the land where we find these precious stones.
“We welcome the Beijing Declaration as a new framework to help us better link African diamond-producing countries with Chinese consumers. We are committed to working across the global diamond industry so that natural diamonds can continue to support jobs and livelihoods and protect the natural environment.”
For his part, Botswana’s Ambassador China Lekoko Kenosi told the gathering that diamonds represent far more than luxury gemstones; they are an important resource for national development.
He said since discovery of diamonds shortly after independence, the precious stones’ resources have financed broad access to quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and livelihood opportunities for generations of Batswana people.
“We have built local industrial capabilities across sorting, cutting and polishing, and our ambition stretches further: to embed greater technology, expertise and economic value within our borders, diversifying our national economy while safeguarding our precious natural heritage through conservation initiatives such as the Okavango Eternal partnership,” he said.
Kenosi added: “A diamond may leave Botswana’s soil, yet the human capital, enterprise development capacity and environmental stewardship its revenue creates remain at home. When Chinese consumers select a diamond to mark marriage, family milestones or personal celebration, their choice connects directly to livelihoods, youth opportunity and national development ambitions within producing nations. We do not ask consumers to bear responsibility for our development, but we urge that this full human story of origin be made visible through informed consumer understanding. The signing of the Beijing Declaration opens a promising new chapter for our bilateral ties, enabling diamonds to serve as a bridge of shared progress between our peoples.”
The signing was witnessed by global industry representatives including Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, Amber Pepper, CEO of the Natural Diamond Council and Emma Wade-Smith on behalf of the World Diamond Council.