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)