Professor Lawrence Cunningham provided a presentation on his recent trip to China in which he met with Chinese government and managerial officials regarding rare earth mineral policies and practices. Professor Cunningham made his presentation to the Steering Committee of the Dean’s Advisory Board at Bauer’s Restaurant on June 22, 2011.

Professor Cunningham received an invitation from the Chinese to visit Baotou and Hohhot in Inner Mongolia. The purpose of this visit was to meet with business individuals involved in the processing, refining and production of end user products utilizing rare earth minerals. As part of the visit, Cunningham visited with officials from Baotou Iron and Steel, the Rare Earth Mineral Institute, as well as government officials.

As part of the presentation to the Steering Committee, Cunningham outlined the meetings and major conclusions and issues ensuing from his visit. This included perspectives on rare earth production, the recent consolidation of producers of rare earths minerals and export quotas and the possibility for joint ventures.   He offered insight into Chinese management and government policies regarding rare earth minerals. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period.

Cunningham is the Accenture Term Professor of Marketing at the Business School at the University of Colorado Denver and teaches in the area of Marketing in China, International Marketing, as well as Customer Relationship Marketing and the basic graduate business course in Marketing Management.  He also teaches undergraduate courses in Asian Business Development.