Poverty line to be raised to international standard

The figure for the number of Chinese people living in poverty could double to 80 million if the government adopts proposed standards for measuring economic status, Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.

Beijing might raise the bar for what qualifies as "impoverished" from per-capita annual income of 1,067 yuan ($152) or less to one of 1,300 yuan ($186) or less. The 20-percent increase would roughly double the number of people who qualify as impoverished in the capital.

The new figure, which accounts for cost-of-living and exchange rates, is equivalent to one US dollar a day, Xinhua quoted the Poverty Alleviation Office under the State Council as saying. The office announced it would solicit suggestions from 26 of its subsidiaries nationwide.