China closer to well-off society

China is speeding up the pace in constructing a well-off society. According to latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, China achieved a score of 69 percent in regards to being a well-off society in 2006.

That's more than 3 percentage points higher than 2005. This is also the highest figure since 2000. The score is based on an assessment of 6 categories: economic development, social harmony, living quality, democracy and law, science and education, and the environment and resources.

To construct an all-round well-off society is the goal of the Communist Party of China by the 2020. On a scale of one to a hundred for individual factors, life expectation and social security scored above 90 points; education and democracy were between 80 to 90; income disparity between urban and suburban areas and the environment were between 70 to 80. While energy consumption, social security, and disposable income scored below 60 points.