BEIJING -- Chinese people have seen tremendous advances in their lives under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Han Wenxiu, an official with the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, said on Monday.

After more than 70 years of hard work since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the country's per capita national income so far exceeds $10,000, Han said at a press conference held to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

The average life expectancy of the Chinese people has increased to 77.3 years, up from just 35 years when the PRC was founded, and the average number of years spent in education for people aged 15 and above has increased to 9.9.

The country's infant mortality rate has dropped to 5.6 per 1,000, compared with 200 per 1,000 about 70 years ago, said Han.

Since the beginning of reform and opening-up, China has lifted approximately 770 million impoverished rural citizens out of poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of the world's total, according to Han.