The growing income gap has been acknowledged of having the tendency to trigger social unrest and hamper economic restructuring at the current meeting of China's top legislature.
Chi Fulin, president of China Institute of Development and Reform, says increasing the middle class population is the key to the issue.
"China's middle classes currently make up 23 percent of the total population - that's about 300 million people. Can we increase the rate to 40 percent, which would equal 600 million by 2020? That's a very concrete goal and we need to have an action plan to achieve it."
However, while he says the middle classes hold the key to great consumption potential, there are still certain obstacles.
For the average person on the streets, the problems seem to be not enough money to meet rising expenses.
