QINHUANGDAO - China is smoothly pushing forward the reduction of outdated coal capacity, an official said Tuesday.

China's goal to cut coal capacity by 500 million tons within three to five years starting 2016 will likely be met in advance, Lian Weiliang, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a trade fair.

By the end of this year, the number of coal mines in China will drop to about 7,000 from 10,800 in 2015, Lian said.

A week ago, the National Bureau of Statistics said China had completed its 2017 tasks for steel and coal capacity cuts.

In 2016, China cut coal capacity by more than 290 million tons. This year's target was 150 million tons.

There is still a large amount of outdated capacity in the coal sector, and the task of cutting capacity remains arduous, Lian said.