China should establish a cost-sharing mechanism to give migrant workers equal access to public services and welfare benefits in cities, a senior official from the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top economic planner, said on Saturday.

Du Ying, deputy minister of the commission, said he agreed with the proposals from members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee that speeding up reform of the hukou, or household registration system, is key to integrating migrant workers into cities.

The hukou system regulates population mobility and imposes limits for migrant workers to enjoy medical services, public educational resources and affordable housing schemes in cities.

He cited a study conducted by the Development Research Center of the State Council, which said it costs about 80,000 yuan ($12,640) to resettle a migrant worker, so an investment of 20 trillion yuan would be needed to grant full urban status to the country's 250 million population flowing from rural to urban areas.

"Migrant workers should not bear this reform cost alone. Our government, employers, migrant workers and urban residents should share this expense," said Du.