Kgalema Motlanthe.
"We will leave no stone unturned to ensure every problem identified is resolved," Motlanthe said on Friday.
"We will start with those problems that require immediate attention and tackle them until we find solutions," Motlanthe told journalists at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
President Jacob Zuma has tasked Motlanthe with leading the interactions with the unions and mining companies.
The industry has been plagued by strikes and violence, especially in the Rustenburg platinum belt.
Top officials from United Association Of South Africa, Solidarity, the National Council of Trade Unions, the Federation of Unions of South Africa, the Chamber of Mines, and the South African Mining Development Association were also at the meeting.
Officials from the National Union of Mineworkers were led by its president Senzeni Zokwana.
Also at the meeting was the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, led by its president Joseph Mathunjwa.
'Optimistic' Motlanthe
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union halted its plan to embark on a strike at Lonmin over recognition rights as a majority union.
Officials of the Congress of South African Trade Unions were not at the meeting as they were attending an International Labour Organisation conference abroad, Motlanthe said.
Several chief executives of mining houses, including Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan of AngloGold Ashanti, Sipho Nkosi of Exxaro Resources, Simon Scott of Lonmin, Graham Briggs of Harmony Gold and Chris Griffiths of Anglo American Platinum were attending.
Motlanthe said he was "optimistic" that the parties would reach a solution.
"We will pull together all loose strands, and I am optimistic we will find each other and agree on the issues affecting the industry."
He said the parties would also tackle long-term solutions for the industry. – Sapa