Wealth gap greatest challenge for China's growth

BEIJING - Most Chinese believe income disparities will hinder China's development in the next decade, according to findings of an online poll released on Tuesday.

More than 11,300 Internet users nationwide were polled by the China Youth Daily last week. Of the respondents, 17.7 percent were born after 1990, while 47.9 percent were born in the 1980s and 24.4 percent in the 1970s.

More than 75 percent of respondents said the wealth gap will be the biggest problem for China's development in the next 10 years, followed by the abuse of power (59.4 percent), entrenched interest groups (52.8 percent), ecological and environmental degradation (52.6 percent) and infringements on the rights of disadvantaged groups (50.3 percent).

Less than one-third of the respondents said slowed economic growth will hold China back, while still fewer chose a worsened international environment and a loss of demographic dividends.

Calls for reform have grown louder among the public, as the survey indicated that 72.7 percent of respondents expect a new round of reforms in the coming decade.

66 percent of respondents chose income distribution as the top candidate for reform, while reforms related to fighting corruption and boosting the economy ranked slightly lower.

Respondents also listed health care, education and food safety as areas that are in need of improvement.