Ministry of Natural Resources, People's Republic of China

The Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, commonly referred to as the Ministry of Natural Resources, is a component department of the State Council in charge of natural resources affairs. It operates at the ministerial level and retains the name "State Oceanic Administration" for external affairs. The Ministry of Natural Resources is primarily responsible for the supervision of the development, utilization, and protection of natural resources. It establishes and oversees the implementation of a spatial planning system, fulfills the responsibilities of the owner of all types of natural resource assets owned by the entire population, conducts unified surveys and registration of rights and interests, establishes a paid-use system for natural resources, and is in charge of the management of the surveying and mapping and geological exploration industries.