Farmers in Sishui Village, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China, work in terraced fields on June 2 (XINHUA) 

Today, the per-capita annual disposable income in China has reached 30,000 yuan ($4,220.7). However, nearly 600 million people's monthly income is still barely 1,000 yuan ($140.7), according to a press conference where Premier Li Keqiang answered questions raised by Chinese and foreign reporters on May 28.  

"It (1,000 yuan) is not even enough to rent a room in a medium-sized Chinese city. Additionally, because of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), many families are in difficulty. So it is a high priority on the government's work agenda to meet the essential needs of vulnerable groups and families who are in new difficulties because of COVID-19," he said.  

Though the incomes of the Chinese have increased in the past decades, there is still a wide gap. In 2017, China's Gini coefficient, a measure of income disparity widely used by economists and governmental sectors around the world, was 0.467, which shows the income gap in China.  

Li said governments at all levels must always put people's interests first and bear in mind the hardships of the people. "In introducing each and every policy, we must make sure that it contributes to the wellbeing of all families and to the better lives of our people," he said.  

The government will implement measures to increase people's income and expand employment channels to narrow income inequality. One of them has been easing the ban on roadside booths or food stalls.  

The ban was enforced to keep cities clean. Since recently, vendors are allowed to set up temporary roadside businesses in designated places, provided they follow environment protection and traffic regulations. The measure was taken to improve the livelihood of people with low incomes and revive the local economy.  

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Gmw.cn.com on May 29)    

(Print Edition Title: Meeting Basic Needs)