BEIJING, July 30 -- China plans to help about 100 million people without urban ID records to settle in towns and cities by 2020, a statement by the State Council, China's cabinet, said Wednesday.

The circular was aimed at accelerating reform of the nation's household registration, or "hukou," system.

The document said the government will remove the limits on hukou registration in townships and small cities, relax restrictions in medium-sized cities, and set qualifications for registration in big cities.

The rights and benefits of residents who do not have urban ID records in the city where they live should be safeguarded, the document said.