In 2050, 1.3 billion Chinese will live in a moderately developed society, with a minimum monthly income of 1,300 U.S. dollars, an average life-expectancy of more than 80 years and social services available to all, according to a new report.

The blueprint was drawn up by a research team with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Using statistics provided by national institutes and world organizations, the report said that by then, no one in China will live with an annual income of less than 668 yuan (81 U.S. dollars) per capita, the country's absolute poverty line.

He Chuanqi, head of the research team who compiled the report, told Xinhua that to attain this goal, China should follow two stages of social transformation. It should first turn into a city-based industrialized society from the present agricultural one, and then step into a knowledge-oriented society with rural and urban areas developing at the same rate.

By 2050, 80 percent of the urbanization work in China will have been completed, the researcher said.

He added that the social transformation will also bring great changes to peoples' life-styles, as 80 percent of the population would have access to information industry services, 50 percent could afford overseas travel and 50 percent would own private cars.

However, he was keen to point out that the current situation is still not that optimistic. The economic index of China in 2001 equaled that of the United States 100 years ago. China is lagging far behind developed countries in terms of urbanization, life-expectancy and adult literacy.

He also noted that the social transformation will change peoples' opinions and life-styles, thus evoking controversy and provoking social problems.

"Chinese society is now undergoing the first stage of its transformation towards an industrialized society," He said, adding the economic modernization in China has been faster than the social modernization over the past 50 years.

Editor: Yan