The foreign trade value of North China's Hebei province reached 313.46 billion yuan ($46 billion) in the first seven months of this year.

State-owned China Energy Investment Corp is ramping up efforts to dispatch coal from production hubs such as Shaanxi and Gansu provinces to Sichuan province and Chongqing.

A total of 16 out of 41 major industries saw growth in profits in the January-July period, and 14 of them reported growth of over 5 percent.

The trip by rail and sea was about 20 days shorter than if the goods had been sent by sea.

The industry has also stepped up efforts ensuring safe mining in recent years, Sun said.

The upgrades, targeted to promote clean production and improve efficiency, have brought about both environmental and economic benefits.

Profits at China's industrial companies fell in the first seven months of this year as the country grapples with pandemic-related disruptions, high temperatures and insufficient domestic demand.

The China Rare Earth Society 2022 Academic Annual Conference was held simultaneously.