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.

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

Northeast China's Heilongjiang province saw its foreign trade in goods grow by 33 percent year-on-year to 265.15 billion yuan ($39.44 billion) in 2022, customs data showed.

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

Power consumption data can reflect situations of enterprises' production and economic operation, and thus become a key barometer of economic activity, experts said.

China launched an energy revolution pilot program in Shanxi in 2019, promoting the coal-rich province to explore energy transition.

China's raw coal output posted stable expansion in December 2022, official data showed.

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