ABSTRACT
China has been enjoying unprecedented economic growth rates for over a decade, giving rise to numerous opportunities and benefits to this country. That, however, has also thrown up many complex problems associated with rapid economic expansion: for instance, intensification of social and regional inequality, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation. It is evident that such a growth mode has left out a large proportion of rural people who are unable to access or benefit from the opportunities thus available. At a time of extraordinary growth of these economies, ironically, the major challenge for China is to find ways and means to solve growing rural–urban inequality and to create an environment that effectively facilitates and promotes “inclusive” development.
