Nearly a million metric tons of lithium resources have been discovered in Yajiang, Southwest China's Sichuan province, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources on Wednesday, making it the largest known store of pegmatite-type monomeric lithium ore in Asia.

This is a major breakthrough for the country and sets an exemplary precedent, the ministry said.

Lithium is a soft and silver-white alkali metal known for its unique properties, such as being the lightest metal, having the highest electrochemical potential, and being highly reactive with water.

Lithium batteries dominate the electric vehicle sector, and for large-scale wind and solar energy storage, the most cost-effective solution is often batteries that contain lithium.

Global lithium resources are unevenly distributed, with major deposits found in countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Australia, China and the United States.

China, despite having lithium-rich minerals, needs increasing efforts to unlock its potential in lithium exploration.

By promoting lithium resource exploration, the Ministry of Natural Resources aims to bolster the supply of lithium and boost confidence among investors.

The 2024 National Natural Resources Work Conference concluded on Tuesday with China pledging to enhance collaboration with regions in Latin America in mineral exploration.

Xinhua contributed to this story.