BEIJING -- China will start a nationwide campaign to close several metal and non-metal mines and improve their safety, the Work Safety Committee of the State Council announced Friday.

The three-year campaign is aimed at consolidating the sector, regulating mining activity and shutting down illegal or dangerous mines, the committee said in a circular sent to local officials.

Although the number of mining-related accidents and deaths has dropped in recent years, the sheer number of mines will make improving their safety a challenging task, the committee said.

Ninety-five percent of China's 100,000 metal and non-metal mines are smaller mines that are prone to accidents, the committee said.