BEIJING, April 9 (Reuters) – BHP Group’s incoming CEO, Brandon Craig, met with the chairman of Chinalco in Beijing this week and discussed further cooperation, the Chinese aluminium giant said on Thursday.
Craig’s trip to China is a focus of interest to investors as the mining giant has been locked in a pricing battle with its biggest customer, China’s Mineral Resources Group. CMRG has banned its steel mills from buying several of BHP’s products as the two hammer out annual supply terms.
Craig said last month that he would be focused on strengthening the company’s relationships in China.
Chinalco Chairman Duan Xiangdong met with Craig on Wednesday and told him that he hoped both companies could cooperate further, according to a company WeChat post.
BHP did not have immediate comment.
Craig will take up his new appointment on July 1.
(Reporting by Amy Lv and Lewis Jackson; Additional reporting by Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
