JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – China-focused Sino Gold and Gold Fields have agreed not to extend their existing alliance agreement, after the South African firm sold its stake in Sino Gold to Eldorado Gold.

Sino Gold and Gold Fields would continue to be joint-venture (JV) partners on designated projects, identified under the alliance, the Australia-listed company said on Thursday.

The two mining companies have also agreed that both would be free to pursue opportunities in China – the world’s largest gold producing country – independently from each other.

Gold Fields announced on Wednesday that it had sold its stake in Sino Gold to Vancouver-based Eldorado for $282-million.

Gold Fields CEO Nick Holland said that the company would strengthen its own team in China to allow for independent growth in that country.

Commenting on the changes, Sino Gold chairperson Jim Askew said that Gold Fields had been a supportive shareholder for seven years, and that it was looking forward to continuing work with the company as a JV partner.

Sino Gold owns China’s second-largest gold mine – Jinfeng.

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