(Left) Chen Yangyang and Chen Shengshen lean on the door of their house in Shizhuan County, Ankang city in northwest China's Shannxi province. (Right) Their parents are standing at the entrance to the apartment that they rent in Dongguan in south China's Guangdong province. [Photo: xinhua]

China is planning to find out the exact number of "left-behind" children in the country.

Ministry of Civil Affairs official Ni Chunxia says the task is to be completed this year. She says the work will help to relieve poverty in rural areas.

"Left-behind" children are those whose parents are working far away in the city and spend little time with them.

There is a higher possibility for such children to suffer from developmental issues or to become victims of human trafficking or other criminals.

China has around 60 million left-behind children based on the numbers of the 2010 national census.

However, experts say that the number is just a deduction and countermeasures will only be effective with a better understanding of the problem.