Abstract: The establishment of cooperative exploration model between coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata is the precondition for the transformation from strategic metal elements in coal-bearing strata to metal resources. The research on the basic theory and key technology of cooperative exploration of coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata is the core task of establishing cooperative exploration model. Based on the analysis of the basic characteristics of strategic metal elements in coal-bearing strata, the necessity of implementing the cooperative exploration of coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata is demonstrated. Through review on the evolution history of the concept of cooperative exploration, the relationship between comprehensive coal exploration and cooperative exploration is revealed, and considered that the cooperative exploration is the inheritance and development of comprehensive exploration, emphasizes the coordination and orderly and scientific organization in the process of comprehensive exploration of two or more mineral resources, and its core is the cooperative organization of exploration projects and cooperative implementation of key technologies. Based on the discussion on the principle of cooperative exploration of coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata, the theory and technical method system framework of cooperative exploration of coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata is put forward, which is the basis of establishing the model of cooperative exploration of coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata. The cooperative exploration of coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata should be based on the study of the enrichment and mineralization mechanism, combination types and occurrence rules of the strategic metal elements in coal-bearing strata, based on the multi-disciplinary theories of coal geology, ore deposit, geochemistry, geophysics and exploration engineering, and supported by the cooperative exploration technology system composed of key technologies such as precision drilling, fine geophysical exploration and fine geochemical exploration. Also, it should be based on the solid mineral exploration norms and other standards, follow the general principles of solid mineral resources exploration, comprehensive exploration and single mineral resource exploration, as well as the principles of research first, technical effectiveness, fine exploration, dynamic adjustment, zoning policy implementation, coordination and synchronization, and cooperate in the organization of exploration projects and implementation of key technologies, in order to achieve the balance of the best technical benefits and the best economic benefits of the cooperative exploration of coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata. On the basis of the completion of coal geological exploration tasks, it is expected to find out the geological characteristics and development geological conditions of the associated strategic metal resources, to obtain the corresponding resources or distribution characteristics of strategic metal elements, and to provide geological basis for the comprehensive development and utilization of mineral resources in coal-bearing strata. The core issues of cooperative exploration of coal and strategic metal resources in coal-bearing strata are as follows: determination of cooperative exploration objects, selection and cooperative implementation of exploration technologies, cooperative deployment of exploration projects, and scientific estimation of resources.