On June 18, 2026, Li Shangyong, the former general manager of Jinchuan Group, was investigated, and on March 27, 2026, his former superior and former general manager and chairman of Jinchuan Group, Wang Yongqian, was also investigated. Jinchuan Group is the largest nickel-cobalt-platinum family non-ferrous metal smelting enterprise in China, and in recent years, several senior executives of the company have been investigated.
According to the notification from the Gansu Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, Li Shangyong, the former deputy secretary of the party committee and general manager of Jinchuan Group, is under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
Public records show that Li Shangyong was born in January 1965 in Chenggu, Shaanxi Province and graduated from Xi’an University of Science and Technology with a major in non-ferrous metal metallurgy. He held various positions within Jinchuan Group before retiring in March 2025 as the general manager and deputy secretary of the party committee and director of the company.
More than two months ago, on March 27, 2026, Li Shangyong’s former superior and partner, Wang Yongqian, the former general manager and chairman of Jinchuan Group, was put under investigation.
Wang Yongqian, born in October 1966 in Changyuan, Henan Province, and originally from Jinchang, Gansu, served in various positions within Jinchuan Group for 13 years before moving to the position of deputy general manager and party committee member in 2001.
In addition to his roles within Jinchuan Group, Wang Yongqian also served in various government positions in Gansu Province, before returning to Jinchuan Group in 2011 as the general manager and deputy secretary of the party committee. Wang Yongqian’s career has seen him hold significant roles both within the company and in governmental organizations.
Jinchuan Group, established in 1959 and headquartered in Jinchang, Gansu Province, is a major non-ferrous metal smelting and deep processing enterprise controlled by the Gansu provincial government. The company is known for its production of nickel, copper, cobalt, gold, silver, platinum group precious metals, advanced non-ferrous metal materials, and chemical products. It ranks highly in global production for nickel, cobalt, and copper.
Nickel, cobalt, platinum group precious metals, and other non-ferrous metals have always been crucial for the development of high-tech industries and are widely used in aerospace, national defense, electronics, renewable energy, and other important fields.
In recent years, multiple senior executives of Jinchuan Group have come under scrutiny, including the retirements of former chairman Yang Zhiqiang in December 2020 and former deputy general manager Bao Guozhong in April 2021. Both were later sentenced to lengthy prison terms for bribery and abuse of power crimes.
The company’s former leaders have faced legal consequences, highlighting the ongoing anti-corruption efforts within Jinchuan Group and the broader corporate landscape in China. The cases also shed light on the challenges faced by companies operating in industries vital to national development and security.