A total of 770,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs) have been sold in China last year, bringing the country's ownership of green automobiles to over 1.6 million, said Wan Gang, minister of science and technology, on Saturday.

The number of such cars in China now accounts for 50 percent of the world's total, Wan Gang told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing legislative sessions in Beijing.

China has intensified efforts to encourage the use of NEVs by offering tax exemptions and discounts for car purchases, increasing research and development (R&D) of key technologies, and ordering government organizations to buy more new energy vehicles.

"The logic behind this strategy is to improve the energy consumption structure, reduce air pollution, and ease traffic congestion if more NEVs are equipped with AI and self-driving technologies," Wan said.

He added that more foreign-branded NEVs, such as those of BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, General Motors and Ford, are also entering the China market. "They are manufactured by China-based joint ventures and enjoy the same treatment as the country's home-grown makers."

He added that China welcomes foreign electric vehicle manufacturers to come to the world's second largest market so that people can enjoy more diversified products and services.