Of those deaths, ambient air pollution caused more than one million deaths, while household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels and technologies caused another million deaths, it said on its website.
Though some progress has been made, air pollution remains a major problem in China and affects economies and people's quality of life, said the World Health Organization (WHO).
Chinese authorities are ramping up efforts in pollution control and emissions reduction in a bid to effectively eliminate severe air pollution by the end of 2025.
Air pollution is responsible for about two million deaths in China annually, the WHO said.
China must introduce new emission standards that align with global best practises, Li said, adding that the country will boost the share of new energy vehicles and machinery in airports, ports and logistics parks.
