China's top legislator Wu Bangguo says the country is still a developing country despite remarkable economic growth over the past 30 years.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has made his opinion known in an article in the latest issue of the CPC's flagship magazine Qiushi, which is set to be published Friday.

Though China has registered remarkable economic growth, various structural problems and a growth model heavily reliant on labor and resources still plague the economy, says the memo sent to Xinhua outlining the article's contents.

Wu also stressed in the article that striking divides remain between the urban and rural areas, among different regions, and between economic growth and social development.

Additionally, while Chinese people in general lead a moderately well-off life, there is still a sizable number of people living under the poverty line or who are paid poorly.

Wu emphasized that while China's rapid development has caught the attention of the world, the challenges it faces are also rarely seen in other places.