China to kick off third economic census in 2013

China will carry out its third economic census in 2013, the State Council, or China's cabinet, announced on Monday.

Statisticians around the nation will survey all enterprises in the secondary and tertiary sectors, the State Council said, adding that the census will facilitate further economic planning.

Statisticians will collect data related to enterprise ownership, financial status, production capacity and research and development activities during the year-long census, the State Council said.

The central government and its local branches will jointly pay for the census, it said.

The State Council ordered local governments to clamp down on potential irregularities in the census, including the falsification of data, forging census results and interfering in the census process.

The State Council urged statisticians to abide by relevant regulations and laws while keeping state and trade secrets confidential.