China increases rural poverty limit to $1 a day

China has redefined the level at which people in rural areas are considered poor to include everyone earning less than $1 a day (6.5 yuan).

Previously people in the countryside were only regarded as poor if they earned less than 55 cents a day.

The move should see millions more people get access to state benefits.

Some 27 million people were classifie
d as rural poor last year. The new threshold is expected to increase that number fourfold.

Chinese President Hu Jintao has made tackling rural poverty a cornerstone of his leadership.   More Read