Based on the empirical data drawn from complete sample of a questionnaire survey and interview, this paper attempts to fi nd out the relationship between language profi ciency and income of border residents living in Dongxing City, which shares 39 km borderline with Vietnam. A large volume of quantatitive data was obstained and processed according to theory of linguistic economics. Findings show that multilingual profi ciency can enhance employability of residents, helping them to obtain more employment opportunities in marketplace and stable income sources. In other words, there is a positive correlation between average annual income and multilingual proficiency, therefore, Putonghua promotion is an eff ective measure to achieve poverty alleviation in bordering area. This study thus suggests that while the local government should give full play to the positive economic and social benefi ts of Putonghua promotion, it is also very important for the authority to optimize and improve local industrial policies so as to foster new economic impetus and promote and protect the traditional cultural heritage of the local minorities.