The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday, May 27, edition that Ivanhoe Mines stock promoter Robert Friedland is seeing years of relationship-building in China paying off. The Post's Peter Koven writes that Ivanhoe Mines announced a landmark partnership with Zijin Mining Group, one of China's largest gold and copper producers. Zijin will pay Ivanhoe $412-million for nearly half of Ivanhoe's share of the Kamoa copper project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mr. Friedland has spent much of his career building closer business ties between Asia and the West. The deal with Zijin is a direct result of that work. Mr. Friedland believes in the value of having strong relations with Chinese miners, which can access low-cost capital and have deep experience with infrastructure development. Mr. Friedland says: "We're very pleased to have a Chinese partner. It makes a perfect combination." Mr. Friedland notes that Ivanhoe's relationship with Zijin dates back to the 1990s, when the Vancouver-based firm was involved in the discovery of one of Zijin's operations. He says, "We've worked with their team a long time, and had a close relationship with their chairman and vice-chairman for many years."