The Pearl River Delta region, China's southern economic powerhouse, is expected to realize the goal of becoming a well-off society by 2012, eight years earlier than the national target date.

The projection was specified in the Development Blueprint for the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020) published by the central government today. The report also said that the region is expected to become fully modernized by 2020.

According to the blueprint, per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) of the Pearl River Delta region will reach 80,000 yuan ($11,680) by 2012 and 135,000 yuan by 2020, and the share of service industry will rise to 53 percent of GDP in 2012 and 60 percent in 2020.

The region's average life expectancy is projected to increase to 78 years by 2012, and 80 years by 2020.