December 15, 2006, Vancouver, BC -- Gerald S. Panneton, President and CEO of Continental Minerals Corporation ("Continental") (TSX Venture: KMK; OTCBB: KMKCF) is pleased to announce that the merger of Great China Mining, Inc. ("Great China") with Continental (the "Merger") has now been completed. The Merger now unifies 100% ownership of the Xietongmen Copper -- Gold Property in Continental.

With final approvals of the Merger obtained from Great China's shareholders and from the TSX Venture Exchange, Continental issued 36,110,384 common shares in exchange for all of the Great China common shares in order to effect the Merger (initially announced in the joint press release dated April 13, 2006) on December 15, 2006 (the "Closing Date"). Continental also issued options for 136,607 Continental shares in exchange for outstanding options of Great China shares, which are exercisable at US$1.05 each until December 21, 2008.

Continental is also acquiring interests in three other properties, totalling 109 square kilometres, which surround the Xietongmen Property, in consideration of an aggregate of US$3,250,000 and 1,500,000 units of Continental, with each unit consisting of one common share and one warrant exercisable at CDN$1.59 to purchase one additional common share for two years from the Closing Date. Under Canadian securities legislation, these securities are subject to a statutory hold period ending four months from the Closing Date.

Pursuant to an agreement with Mr. Zhi Wang, the former Chairman, director and principal shareholder of Great China, Mr. Wang shall provide consulting services to Continental in order to assist in securing all necessary mining permits for commercial mining of the Xietongmen Property. Continental will issue Mr. Wang, upon securing all of the necessary permits, 2,500,000 units of Continental, with each unit consisting of one common share and one warrant with each warrant exercisable at CDN$1.59 to purchase one additional common share for a period of one year after receipt of the permits. Under Canadian securities legislation, these securities are subject to a statutory hold period ending four months from the date of issuance. Mr. Wang and certain other former Great China shareholders have also agreed to orderly market resale restrictions of their Continental shares through an independent trustee. Mr. Wang has become a director of Continental and has been granted options for 700,000 Continental shares exercisable at a CDN$1.61 each until February 28, 2007.

Great China shares will no longer trade or be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board. Registered shareholders of Great China who hold their shares outside of brokerage accounts will receive letters of transmittal instructing them how to obtain certificates for Continental shares while shareholders whose Great China shares are held in brokerage accounts will, in due course, automatically have their shares exchanged for them.

The Board of Directors of Continental now consists of eleven directors including continuing directors, Robert Dickinson, Gerald Panneton, Ronald Thiessen, Jeffrey Mason, Rene Carrier, David Copeland, Scott Cousens and Gordon Fretwell, together with the three nominees of Great China, Zhi Wang, Jie (Jack) Yang and Xiaojun Ma.

The Xietongmen property is an advanced exploration stage project located 240 kilometers from the city of Lhasa in Tibet, People's Republic of China. Drilling in 2005 and 2006 outlined a porphyry copper-gold deposit with significant mineral resources at Xietongmen, as well as other exploration potential on the property. A comprehensive program has been underway in 2006, encompassing exploration, engineering, environmental and socio-economic work for a feasibility study and environmental and social impact assessments. These studies are targeted for completion in 2007.

For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.continentalminerals.com or contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365 or in North America at 1-800-667-2114.

Gerald Panneton
President & CEO
Continental Minerals Corporation

You can view the Next News Releases item: Wed Jan 10, 2007, Continental'S 2006 Objectives At Xietongmen Project Successfully Achieved

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