Leveraging advantages, inland areas grab competition from big industries.

Exports surged by 28 percent to 1.06 trillion yuan, while imports were recorded at 950 billion yuan, an increase of 14.2 percent.

Its output growth rates over the past two years far exceeded that of the three leading coal-producing regions of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia.

The daily crude steel output stood at 1.93 million tonnes in early January, according to the China Iron and Steel Association.

The commission is a statutory authority formed in 2020 to curb the growing air pollution in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.

Exports would recover slowly because of the global economic downturn, according to the newspaper.

China aims to have its CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

This year, Inner Mongolia will also step up the clean and efficient use of coal, Wang said.