BEIJING, Mar 06, 2012 (Dow Jones) -- China's copper demand will likely to rise by 6% this year, the weakest growth rate since 2008, Wei Jianghong, chairman of Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group, China's second-largest copper producer, said Wednesday.

Still, the global average copper price is unlikely to fall below $8,500 per metric ton, he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the National People's Congress, China's legislature, Wei said the company's Ecuador copper mining project through joint venture EcuaCorriente is due to start production in 2013.

Environmental protests that have taken place against the project are a "normal expression of views," he added.