Beijing's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) exceeded
US$6,000 in 2006, according to statistics released by the capital's
development and reform meeting on January 5.
Chai Xiaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal
Development and Reform Commission, said that the city's GDP rose 11
percent in 2006, the eighth straight year Beijing has had
double-digit economic growth.
Despite the good performance of Beijing's economy, Chai said the
city faces many challenges, particularly the widening income gap
between the city's urban and rural residents.
The per capita annual disposable income of urban residents is
estimated to be more than 20,000 yuan, an increase of 12 percent
over last year, while the per capita net income of farmers living
in the outskirts of Beijing was 8,560 yuan, up eight percent.
Chai said the city's growing population, which now exceeds 15
million permanent residents and some 4 million temporary residents,
is also putting intense pressure on the city's natural resources
and environment.
(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2007)