A total of 2,631 miners -- about seven a day -- were killed last year, down by 338 from 2008, Xinhua news agency said, citing the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety.

The number of mining accidents also fell by 584 to 1,616, it said.

Administration director Zhao Tiechui earlier this month attributed the decline to improved safety standards, but reiterated that the road to safer mines would continue to be difficult.

Accidents in small-scale coal mines accounted for 70 percent of the fatalities last year, Zhao said, adding that the government would pursue efforts to shut down such operations this year.

Small mines produce about 35 percent of the nation's coal, he said.

Fatalities at China's coal mines peaked in 2002 when 6,995 deaths were recorded, sparking efforts by the government to boost safety standards.

China's total coal production rose from just over one billion tonnes in 1999 to 2.95 billion tonnes last year, Zhao said. The fossil fuel produces about 70 percent of the booming nation's energy.

As part of its campaign to increase safety standards, the government has levied heavy fines and implemented region-wide mining shutdowns following serious accidents.

But the action has resulted in the under-reporting of accidents as mine bosses seek to limit their economic losses, labour rights groups maintain.

Other safety measures include modernising ventilation and gas detection systems and improving evacuation procedures.

Authorities have also beefed up safety inspection requirements and imposed stricter standards for mine closures. Government inspectors have focused on getting more input from miners about the situation in the pit, rather than relying on management.

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