Our approach to community relations is underpinned by the Rio Tinto Communities Policy, and the principles of mutual respect, long term commitment and active partnership. Every Rio Tinto business implements this policy through rolling five year community plans which all businesses submit and update annually. The plans apply throughout the life cycle of the Group's activities.

Mutual respect depends on our understanding the issues that are important to our neighbours and on our neighbours understanding what is important to us. Wherever we operate, we do our best to accommodate the different cultures, lifestyles, heritage and preferences of our neighbours, particularly in areas where industrial development is little known.

Long term commitment suggests that, as far as possible, planning in community relations should start with the end point in mind. This principle might apply, for example, in different ways: the outcome and completion of a socio-economic assistance programme should be defined before the programme commences; or, in the case of new operations, a closure plan and post-mine land use options need to be decided and agreed with local stakeholders, before the mining operation commences.

The principle of active partnership suggests that we would like to have relationships with the communities affected by our operations that are typified by a high degree of reciprocity. For example, while we actively seek to understand our affected communities (through surveys and baseline studies), it is equally important that those communities gain a realistic understanding of us. Furthermore, we seek to undertake consultation with our affected communities that resemble active, joint decision making, rather than passive giving and receiving information.

We know that good performance in community relations requires all employees to accept responsibility for community relationships. In addition, our communities and environmental work is closely coordinated and takes account of people's perceptions of the consequences of our activities.