China to double farmers' per capita income

The Chinese Communist Party says it plans to double by 2020 the per capita income of its farmers, which amounted to $605 last year.

The goal was set at the Beijing meeting of the third plenary Session of the party's Central Committee, China Daily reported.

A party communique said the government will substantially boost consumption of rural residents and eliminate absolute poverty in the country's rural areas by 2020. Last year's per capita rural disposable income of $605 is expected to go up by at least 6 percent this year.

The government said the current rural population of those classified as being mired in absolute poverty totaled 15 million, down drastically from 250 million in 1978.

The communique said the country will resolutely push forward with its rural development reform.

"Rural infrastructure is still weak and needs improving. Rural development is lagging behind and needs support. Farmers' incomes are increasing slowly, and need to be pushed up," said the document.