The income growth rates for Chinese urban and rural residents will
drop in 2003, according to the report delivered by the country's
top economic planner Zeng Peiyan, on Thursday, to the first session
of the 10th National People's Congress.
In
2003, the per capita disposable income of urban residents is
expected to increase by 6 percent, Zeng told the meeting. The
figure for 2002 is 13.4 percent, according to his report. While the
per capita net income of rural residents is expected to increase by
4 percent in 2003, compared with 4.8 percent last year.
The per capita disposable income of urban residents is 7,703 yuan
in 2002, while that of rural residents 2,476 yuan, according to
official statistics.
However, the minister said that a system for assisting low-income
people through a variety of means will be established and perfected
to help exceedingly indigent urban families solve their problems in
housing, children's schooling, medical treatment and heating.
"We will deepen the reform of the wealth distribution system to
increase personal incomes, particularly for the low-income
population," the minister said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2003)
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