The growing gap between rich and poor, corruption and a lack of protection mechanisms for some social groups are three of the major challenges that China will have to overcome as it sets about building a harmonious society, according to experts.

A fair and reasonable income distribution system is a key factor in achieving greater social equality, said an expert during an interview with Xinhua Sunday, when the Sixth Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened.

The four-day CPC Central Committee plenum will discuss major issues affecting the building of a harmonious socialist society.

Huang Weiting, associate chief editor of Red Flag Press, said raising income levels for the poorer people, enlarging the middle class and reining in excessive revenues are practical measures that will help reduce the yawning gap between rich and poor and between China's wealthy coastal regions and the impoverished hinterland.

Shen Jie, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said sharpening social tension and corruption of Party members are both big challenges for China to resolve.

Shen said the government should pay attention to different interest groups, especially those whose economic and social status dropped dramatically during the economic reforms.

"It's important that their appeals and opinions get easy access to the government," Shen said.

Shen said party democracy and a systematic anti-corruption campaign, including education, supervision, prevention and correction, are crucial to solving the corruption issue.

The two experts agreed the other five key challenges for China were unemployment, an inadequate social security system, unsustainable economic growth twinned with environmental pollution, backwardness in science, education, culture, medical care and sports, and a general lack of management skills.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2006)