Chinese vice premier Li Keqiang on Friday called for a scientific nationwide census to ensure accurate results as a basis of planning for the country's social and economic development.

"National census is a significant research on the country's situation and power. It should be conducted scientifically in accordance with laws and regulations...in order to provide key statistics for comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable economic and social development of the country," said Li during a conference on the country's sixth national census, which will begin on November 1.

Li said that in the upcoming years, the country will see a peak of its entire population as well as the elderly population, and a census is needed to provide an accurate picture of the country's population, structure and quality. China has begun conducting a national census every ten years since 1990.

The last census in the world's most populous country, a decade ago, found there were 1.29533 billion people in China.

Li urged strict management on every phase and part of the census to ensure the quality of the data.

Also, Li urged all information reported in the census should be kept confidential and not used for other purposes besides the census.

Foreign residents will also be surveyed for the first time in the upcoming census, earlier reports have said.

According to the pilot survey questionnaire for foreigners to be used in the upcoming census, a foreigner's name, age, gender, nationality, educational attainment, purpose and duration of stay will be collected.

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