COLORADO SPRING, the United State, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The World Gold Council (WGC) announced here on Monday that China's Shandong Gold Group was accepted by the leading organization for the world gold industry as the 25th Board Member.

In a press release, the London-based global organization said Shandong Gold Group, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, is one of the largest gold producers in China and is actively committed to ecological mining.

David Harquail, Chair of the World Gold Council, said this move is an important step to better reflect the shape of the global gold mining industry.

"Shandong Gold Group is a leading gold mining company and we are delighted that they have joined the Board," he said.

Chen Yumin, Chairman of Shandong Gold Group, was quoted as saying that the board's expansion showed the members of the WGC, which are gold mining companies, have forward-looking insights worldwide.

"Through joining the World Gold Council, we are now part of an international platform that will enable us to to play a more active and important role and better integrate ourselves into the global gold market while continuously enhancing our relationships with global leading gold companies to promote the stable and long-term development of the gold industry in China and worldwide," Chen said.

Found in 1987, the WGC now has 25 members, which are headquartered across the world and have mining operations in over 45 countries and regions.?