Wang said with China's rapid urbanization drive, it is a historical trend - also a matter of social equality - that rural residents need to be included in the urban population and entitled to the social welfare in cities.

He also suggested opening the door wider to the migrant population, depending on a city's financial conditions and infrastructure.

Hukou has long been blamed for systematically widening the gap between urban and rural residents. The system, which restricts people's residency to their hometown, limits rural workers' access to services in cities.