China hopes to eradicate poverty by 2050, and its 1.3 billion citizens would have a minimum monthly income of US$1,300 and an average life expectancy of more than 80 years.

The "wish list" is part of a blueprint that was drawn up by a research team with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in its latest report. Using statistics provided by national institutes and world organizations, the report sets out that by then, the minimum annual per capita income would be 668 yuan (US$81).

He Chuanqi, head of the research team that compiled the report, told Xinhua that to attain this goal, China should follow two stages of social transformation. It should first turn into a city-based industrialized society from the present agricultural one, and then step into a knowledge-oriented society with rural and urban areas developing at the same pace.

By 2050, 80 percent of the urbanization work in China will have been completed, the researcher said.

He added that the social transformation will also bring great changes to peoples' life-styles, as 80 percent of the population would have access to information industry services, 50 percent would be able to afford overseas travel and 50 percent would own private cars.

However, he pointed out that the current situation is still not too optimistic. The economic index of China in 2001 equaled that of the US 100 years ago. China is lagging far behind developed countries in terms of urbanization, life expectancy and adult literacy.

He also noted that the social transformation will change peoples' opinions and lifestyles, thus evoking controversy and provoking social problems.

"Chinese society is now undergoing the first stage of its transformation into an industrialized society," He said, adding China's economic modernization has developed faster than social modernization over the last 50 years.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)