China's first national economic census badly needs public support, especially the suggestions of experts and scholars from all fields, an official said Thursday in Beijing.

Li Deshui, director of the National Bureau of Statistics, made the remark at a symposium, at which nearly 30 experts of statistics, economics and social sciences discussed the draft scheme of the national economic census.

The census will be a significant survey about the national situation, and requires public participation for its broad scope, wide involvement, high technical requirements and great difficulty, Li said.

The census will be the first China undertakes after its census system reform. A trial census began in April and will last till June to ensure the feasibility of the census project.