BEIJING, Jan 13: A senior Chinese official has expressed worries over the growing rich-poor gap and environmental damage caused by the country’s galloping economic growth. “The price to pay for economic growth is too high,” said Ma Kai, minister for the national commission for reform and development, according to official press.

With 2006 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 10.5 per cent, according to preliminary figures, disposable income per capita rose 11 per cent in the cities, Kai told a meeting of 700 cadres.

But he said the growth came at a steep cost to the country.

Kai said the poverty of rural China compared with the booming cities posed a risk to stability, while breakneck growth was damaging the environment.

“In the realm of society development, there are still a lot of problems which have to be resolved immediately,” he said.

“The promotion of harmony is hard.”

China's government has become increasingly concerned about the environment and social harmony after a series of disturbances in recent years.—AFP