China will set up repatriation centers at borders and cities to address illegal immigration problems, according to a report by Yang Huanning, vice minister of China's Ministry of Public Security, Beijing News reported Thursday.

The report said there will be centers to deal with the illegal immigration problems and an information platform to improve the services for foreigners.

There were more than 20,000 illegal immigrants in China as of 2011, and they entered the country illegally or were staying and working without permits, said Yang.