The State Council's Work Safety Committee has urged authorities in Guizhou province to step up safety checks on coal mines and curb the high incidence of deadly accidents, the Ministry of Emergency Management said on Wednesday.

Guizhou has had the country's highest death rates resulting from mining accidents for two consecutive years, signifying a series of issues including weak awareness of safe production, poor planning of the development of its coal mining sector and inefficient oversight, it said in a statement.

The committee held talks with officials from Guizhou's provincial government, the government of Guizhou's Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture, and the Guizhou Energy Administration on Wednesday.

It urged local authorities to resolutely phase out small coal mines that produce less than 300,000 metric tons a year and halt production at outdated mines.

Concerted efforts will also be devoted to addressing risks related to gas, a major cause of fatal accidents in coal mines.

The committee added that coal mining enterprises needed to be held accountable for safety hazards.

Key areas and major businesses will face particularly stringent supervision to stem violations of safety regulations, the committee said.

Guizhou is one of the most important coal production regions in China.

The most recent accident occurred on Dec 17, when a gas outburst in a coal mine in Anlong county resulted in 16 deaths.