China's State Council on Tuesday warned the country's record on work safety remains grim despite improvements made last year.

State Councilor Hua Jianmin presided over the meeting of the State Council, which decided the country's major tasks this year were to fully implement government policies on work safety and "crack the hard nuts" like unsafe coal mines.

The council pledged to intensify the crackdown on illegal mining, accelerate closures of small coal mines, prevent gas explosions, and improve the responsibility system.

State Councilors recognized improvements in work safety last year, but warned the situation remains grim.

Last year, the number of accidents dropped 12.6 percent year on year, while the death toll fell 11.2 percent.

Chinese coal mines are known as the most dangerous in the world. The closures of illegal small mines has led to about 850 fewer deaths last year.

China planned to close another 4,800 small mines before mid-2008.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2007)