Ministry says China will increase oversight and boost production of the 17 rare earth minerals to 140,000 tonnes this year from 120,000 tonnes last year

Rich nations have used banks and development programmes to funnel $77 billion in each of the last three years to oil and gas projects despite their commitment to slash greenhouse gas emissions

Mentougou is home to Beijing's last coal mine, which is slated to close later in this year (2020) as the city battles chocking smog