By Jeff Lewis
DENVER, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Canadian miner Iamgold Corpwould fit well with China Gold International ResourceCorp Ltd's acquisition strategy as the Chinesestate-run company seeks to buy producing gold mines, anexecutive with the overseas arm of China National Gold Groupsaid on Wednesday.
China Gold is aggressively looking to add to its projectpipeline, and Iamgold would be a good fit, Jerry Xie, executivevice president, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Denver GoldForum.
"You can take that as an example. We feel comfortable forthat size, as a corporate acquisition," he said.
"That one is really good to fit our strategy,” he added.
He declined comment on whether the company has held specifictalks with Iamgold, whose flagship project is the Rosebel minein Suriname.
China Gold is eyeing deals in Canada, Latin America andAfrica in the $1 billion to $2 billion range but would alsoconsider partnering on projects and smaller deals around $500million, Jerry said.
Iamgold Chief Executive Officer Stephen Letwin told Reuterson Tuesday he would not comment on specific deals but said thecompany was open to partnering on its projects with strategicinvestors.
Iamgold was not available for immediate comment onWednesday.
Rising gold prices have spurred expectations ofdeal-making in the sector as miners look to boost shrinking goldreserves and vocal investors demand companies lower costs.
Iamgold shares were trading down 0.1% C$4.50, giving itmarket value of about C$2.2 billion ($1.7 billion)
($1 = 1.3291 Canadian dollars)(Reporting by Jeff LewisEditing by Denny Thomas, Rosalba O'Brien and Cynthia Osterman)