Preface

Throughout history, women have played an essential role in shaping human civilization and have made immense contributions to social progress. But the paths towards gender equality and women's well-rounded development across the world have been long and arduous. 

Since its founding in 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has remained committed to women's liberation and development and gender equality. The CPC regards women as a major force for advancing all endeavors of the Party and the nation, always places the work concerning women high on its agenda, and leads women in their pursuit of liberation, progress and development. In doing so, the Party has opened a socialist path for women's development with Chinese characteristics. 

The 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 marked the beginning of a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In this new era, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has emphasized safeguarding women's lawful rights and interests and promoting gender equality and women's well-rounded development as integral components of Chinese modernization. Accordingly, it has made a series of major decisions and plans that are pioneering in vision, overarching in scope, and enduring in significance. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, initiated, planned for, supported and chaired the Party's first ever Central Conference on the Party's Work with People's Organizations in 2015, attended the 11th, 12th and 13th national women's congresses in 2013, 2018 and 2023 respectively, and held talks with each newly elected leadership team of the All-China Women's Federation. He has also delivered important speeches on work related to women and children, the role of women's federations, and the significance of family ties, values and traditions, thereby identifying the direction, objectives and guidelines of China's endeavors for women in the new era. 

Upholding gender equality, among other basic national policies, has been incorporated into the CPC's political program, and promoting women's well-rounded development has been included in the national development plan. The legal system for safeguarding women's rights and interests also continues to improve. China has developed a sound approach to its endeavors concerning women. Chinese women actively participate in government initiatives, serve as advocates of civic virtues, fight for their dreams, and excel across all professions. In the new era, China has delivered numerous historic achievements in its endeavors concerning women. The Chinese socialist path for women's development continues to expand, opening ever-broader opportunities for advancement. 

Women around the world have a shared future. China's endeavors concerning women are an integral part of the global cause. In 1995, China hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women, organized by the United Nations. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the conference has since become a milestone for global gender equality. At important occasions such as the 2015 Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment and the 2020 high-level meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Xi Jinping, in his role as president of China, elaborated on China's propositions on gender equality and women's well-rounded development, and proposed holding another global leaders' meeting on women in 2025.

On the occasion of the 2025 Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, the Chinese government is publishing this white paper to present China's philosophy, principles, and innovative practices in promoting gender equality and women's well-rounded development in the new era, highlight Chinese women's outstanding achievements and contribution, and affirm China's commitment to join global endeavors for women's advancement.

I. Development of China's Endeavors Concerning Women

In the process of Chinese modernization, based on China's realities and the trend of the times, the CPC leads Chinese women in exercising their lawful democratic rights, participating in social and economic development, and sharing the fruits of reform and development, all on the foundation of gender equality. 

1. Upholding the CPC's Overall Leadership

The CPC's leadership is the fundamental guarantee of China's work related to women. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has approached this work as an integral part of its broader strategic goal of achieving national rejuvenation, incorporating gender equality and women's well-rounded development into the overall architecture of Chinese socialism. 

Upholding the fundamental national policy of gender equality and protecting the lawful rights and interests of women and children have been included into the reports to the 18th, 19th and 20th CPC national congresses, held in 2012, 2017 and 2022 respectively. 

At the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in 2019, the Party called for upholding and improving the systems and mechanisms for promoting gender equality and women's well-rounded development and proposed leveraging the important role of family ties, values and traditions in community-level social governance. 

At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in 2020, upholding the national policy of gender equality and protecting the lawful rights and interests of women and children were written into the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, along with the promotion of family ties, values and traditions. 

At the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in 2021, the promotion of family ties, values and traditions and the protection of the rights and interests of women and children were incorporated into the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century. 

At the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in 2024, the Party incorporated improving the system for protecting the lawful rights and interests of women and children and refining the mechanisms for leveraging the role of family ties, values and traditions in community-level social governance into the overall plan for deeper comprehensive reform. 

This evolution in policy-making has ensured that China's endeavors concerning women have progressed smoothly under the CPC's overall leadership. 

2. Implementing the Fundamental National Policy of Gender Equality

Highlighting gender equality as a basic national policy is an innovative practice of the Chinese socialist system and a momentous decision for advancing this cause and women's well-rounded development. 

China has improved top-level design and systematic planning accordingly. In formulating laws and policies and making plans and arrangements, the country has taken into full consideration the differences between women and men and the distinctive interests of women. It has promoted gender equality in rights, opportunities and outcomes, safeguarding women's rights and interests in accordance with the law. 

China is committed to cultivating a social ethos of respect and care for women, eliminating all forms of discrimination against them, and discarding obsolete ideas and practices that hinder their development. This more inclusive and dynamic social environment has allowed gender equality to truly become a shared social norm and part of the value system. 

3. Synergizing Women's Development with Social and Economic Progress

Development cannot be achieved without women, and its fruits should be shared by all. In this spirit, China has integrated the advancement of gender equality into its broader development process.

Women's development has been incorporated into the Five-sphere Integrated Plan, which promotes coordinated progress in the economic, political, cultural, social and eco-environmental fields. Goals and tasks for women's development have also been embedded in the five-year plans for national economic and social development. The level of women's development is regarded as an essential measurement for social and economic development. With these efforts, China has synergized its endeavors for women with its social and economic progress in terms of planning and implementation, ensuring that modernization brings greater benefits to women in a fairer way, enabling them to enjoy a growing, guaranteed and sustained sense of gain, fulfillment and security. 

4. Fully Leveraging Women's Proactive Role in National Development

Women constitute a powerful force driving human progress, while at the same time shaping and determining their own futures. Upholding a people-centered philosophy of development, China respects the agency of women and has strengthened relevant institutional safeguards, policy support, and public service supply for their development. 

China has carried out programs encouraging women to strive for achievements, which seek to enhance women's overall capabilities, broaden channels for their participation in national development, and fully stimulate their enthusiasm, initiative and creativity, with an ultimate goal of realizing, safeguarding and improving women's vital and immediate interests to the maximum extent. 

The country encourages women to integrate their personal aspirations with the undertakings of the Party and the country, and to leverage their individual strengths in implementing the new development philosophy, fostering a new development dynamic, promoting high-quality development, achieving greater strength and self-reliance in science and technology, and advancing rural revitalization across the board. Utilizing their distinctive role in society and family, women are called upon to contribute considerably to the building of China into a great country and the realization of national rejuvenation. 

5. Joining Global Women in Building a Bright Shared Future

Humanity lives in one homeland, and women around the world have a shared future. China upholds the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, and facilitates the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative. It advocates putting the people first, stays committed to results-oriented actions, and contributes Chinese initiatives, solutions and actions to global endeavors for women. 

China supports the United Nations in prioritizing women's development, promotes cooperation with the rest of the world in relevant fields, and builds international consensus on gender equality through extensive exchanges and mutual learning. Together with all other countries, China works to shape a global environment conducive to women's development, to safeguard international fairness and justice, and to make its due contribution to moving the world to a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress.

II. Boosting the Well-Rounded Development of Women as a National Campaign

Women's cause is an integral part of state governance. To advance this cause, China has continued to strengthen institutional support and safeguards, fostering the necessary conditions and environment for the comprehensive development of women.

1. Improving the Framework for Advancing Women's Cause

China has established a mechanism for the work related to women, under which Party committees exercise leadership, governments assume primary responsibility, working committees on children and women play a coordinating role, women's federations work in collaboration, relevant departments provide support, and the whole of society participates. These concerted efforts have ensured that gender equality is upheld in all areas of economic and social development and all aspects of social life.

The people's congresses have strengthened legislation and supervision. The National People's Congress (NPC) has established the Social Development Affairs Committee to undertake legislation, conduct supervision, and handle proposals and suggestions from NPC deputies concerning the protection of women's rights and interests. It attaches importance to incorporating legal initiatives for promoting women's development and safeguarding women's rights and interests into the legislative plans of its Standing Committee, and to soliciting opinions and accepting feasible proposals from women's federations and women themselves during legislative review and legal supervision. 

Additionally, the NPC hears and reviews the State Council's report on combating domestic violence, identifies the protection of female employees' lawful and special rights and interests as an important component of enforcement inspections of the Trade Union Law, and urges relevant departments to perform their statutory duties in protecting women's rights and interests. The people's congresses of 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government have also set up social development affairs committees to formulate local regulations to supplement national laws, thereby strengthening legal safeguards for women's rights and interests.

The Chinese People's Government has effectively fulfilled its primary responsibility. The government has formulated and organized the implementation of outlines for women's development, and convened meetings on work related to children and women. The working committees on children and women have played their role as deliberative and coordinating bodies, and Party institutions, government departments, judicial authorities, and people's organizations have fulfilled their responsibilities in work related to women. The government has strengthened the statistics monitoring mechanism for the outlines for the development of women in China and established a gender statistics monitoring system covering over 2,400 indicators. Furthermore, gender has been incorporated as a key metric into national censuses and time-use surveys, and the fourth Survey on Social Status of Women in China has been conducted to assess women's development across multiple dimensions.

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has strengthened its role in conducting consultations and offering suggestions. CPPCC committees at all levels perform their duties in political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. They conduct consultations on women's issues through a variety of channels and platforms, including subject-specific, sector-specific and proposal handling consultations, as well as consultative meetings with relevant departments. As one of the 34 sectors defined by the CPPCC, women's federations conduct research and consultations on key issues and major challenges in women's development, such as the protection of women's reproductive and health rights and interests. The National Committee of the CPPCC has conducted consultations and made suggestions to support women's development, addressing issues including fair employment and career development, the strengthening of family ties, values, and traditions, and universal access to childcare services.

Women's federations have served as bridges for connection and communication. The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) is a people's organization of women of all ethnic groups and from all sectors of society in China. It unites women for further emancipation and development under the leadership of the CPC. The ACWF has established an organizational system of women's federations at the national, provincial, prefectural, county, township and village levels, covering government departments, public institutions, new types of economic entities and social organizations, and groups in new forms of employment. 

Women's federations at all levels have served as bridges linking the Party and the government with women, and as assistants to the Party. While supporting major national development strategies, they have performed their functions of guiding, serving, and engaging with women, and launched five key initiatives: providing women with political guidance; encouraging them to excel in the workplace; providing guidance and support in family education, family services, and the cultivation of family virtues; offering support for women's rights protection; and improving the problem-solving capability of women's federations and their staff's professional competence. 

In addition, women's federations have mobilized resources to support women's development through six practical measures: supporting female volunteers who provide care for children in need; growing the scale and quality of female-dominated family services; improving vocational training for women; developing a system of childcare services that is accessible to all; advancing the Dream of the Future action of the Spring Bud Project to help underprivileged schoolgirls; and telling engaging stories about the development of Chinese women. Through these initiatives, they have delivered accessible services and tangible benefits to women, children and families.

2. Setting Objectives and Tasks for Women's Development with Overall Planning

China's national development plans have clarified the strategic tasks for women's development. Five-year plans are blueprints and guides of action for China's economic and social development during their designated time frames. The government has incorporated objectives for women's development into these plans for meeting its strategic goal of modernization. 

The 12th Five-year Plan (2011-2015) for the first time included a section dedicated specifically to advancing women's all-round development. It also set requirements for developing human resources with a focus on women, strengthening labor protection for women, and resolutely combating violence and crimes against women. The 13th Five-year Plan (2016-2020) further strengthened the protection of women's rights and interests and for the first time devoted a separate chapter to ensuring women's rights and equal access to education, employment, and participation in social affairs, and eliminating discrimination and prejudice against women. It also set the targets for poverty alleviation and reduction among women. The 14th Five-year Plan (2021-2025) outlines further measures to safeguard women's rights and interests in areas including health, education, employment, participation in state governance, and social security. For the first time, it contains a section specifically dedicated to the strengthening of family development which focuses on improving the supporting policies and services for this goal.

Special plans in related fields have been made to address women's practical development needs. Plans for improving people's wellbeing – including the Outline of Healthy China 2030, the Outline of the Development Plan for Education (2024-2035), and the special plans for boosting employment and the development of civil affairs undertakings during the 14th Five-year Plan period – have put forward policies and measures to improve the health of women and children, safeguard women's equal rights to education, support women's employment, entrepreneurship, and career development, and improve care and services for rural women who stay behind to care for families while their husbands work in cities. 

The National Medium- and Long-term Talent Development Plan (2010-2020) has outlined arrangements to promote gender balance in the talent pool and strengthen the training and selection of female talent. The National Action Plan for Scientific Literacy (2021-2035) has made specific arrangements to improve the scientific literacy of rural women. The National Human Rights Action Plan, in all four phases, includes a section on the measures for safeguarding women's rights and interests, covering personal, property, education, employment and health rights.

Outlines for women's development have laid out phased targets. Since 1995, China has formulated and implemented four outlines for women's development, each outlining the primary objectives, strategies, and measures for women's development in its corresponding phase. 

The Outline of Women's Development in China (2021-2030) contains 75 primary objectives and 93 strategic measures across eight fields: health, education, economy, participation in decision-making and administration, social security, family development, environment, and the legal sector. The document also outlines the 41 Party and government departments and institutions responsible for implementing these strategic measures. 

Nationwide, 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, along with over 300 prefectures and cities and more than 2,000 counties and districts, have formulated plans for local women's development based on their actual conditions. The objectives and tasks set in the Outline dovetail with national development plans, align with sector-specific plans, and are integrated across the national, provincial, city and county levels. A comprehensive planning system for advancing women's development is now firmly in place.

3. Strengthening Legal Guarantee for Women's Rights and Interests

Continuing to improve the legal system. Legal protection of women's rights and interests is an integral part of advancing law-based governance. China has established a legal system anchored in the Constitution and centered on the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests, covering over 100 laws and regulations. 

The Civil Code was compiled, which includes a Personality Rights section that clarifies the definition of sexual harassment and the responsibilities of employers. Its Marriage and Family section improves mechanisms for the identification and settlement of marital debts, and economic compensation for unpaid domestic work in divorce proceedings. 

The Criminal Law has been revised to abolish the crime of "prostitution involving underage girls" and punish such acts as rape, raise the statutory minimum penalty for the crime of child molestation, and introduce harsher punishments for the crime of purchasing abducted and trafficked women. Additionally, the crime of sexual assault by a person with a duty of care has been added to the Criminal Law. 

The amended Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests has made more comprehensive and systematic provisions on the system and mechanism for protecting women's rights and interests. China has also formulated the Anti-Domestic Violence Law and created systems of compulsory reporting, admonition, personal safety protection order, and emergent protection. 

The revised Law on Land Contract in Rural Areas has improved the legal guarantees for rural women's land rights and interests, ensuring their rightful entitlement to land and corresponding rights. The Law on Rural Collective Economic Organizations has been formulated to provide institutional safeguards ensuring that women do not lose their membership, rights and interests in such organizations due to changes in marital status. 

In addition, the Legal Aid Law, the Law on Basic Medical and Health Care and the Promotion of Health, and the Population and Family Planning Law all have provisions for safeguarding women's rights and interests. 

A gender equality review mechanism has been established at the national level and across all 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government. This mechanism conducts assessments of laws and regulations related to women's rights and interests, ensuring that the fundamental national policy of gender equality is implemented in laws and regulations at the source.

Strengthening law enforcement and judicial protection. China has taken resolute actions to combat criminal and illegal acts that infringe upon women's and girls' personal rights. Since 2013, public security agencies have continued to carry out special operations targeting the abduction and trafficking of women and children. By 2024, the number of such cases had decreased by 95 percent compared with 2013. 

China has established an inter-departmental cooperation and consultation mechanism against domestic violence, issued guidelines on the implementation of admonitions against domestic violence and personal protection orders, and promulgated judicial interpretations clarifying specific interventions and prevention measures, and forms of evidence for identifying domestic violence. 

The systems and measures for preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment have been improved, with the addition of "dispute over liability for damages caused by sexual harassment" as an independent cause of action. To strengthen the protection of the personal rights and interests of girls, China has established a compulsory reporting system for cases of offenses against minors, as well as mechanisms for urging parental care and supervision over minors, for preventing violators from engaging in certain occupations, and for providing one-stop judicial support. 

Procuratorates at all levels have registered and handled 3,810 public-interest cases concerning women's rights and interests. Since 2012, legal aid institutions across China have provided legal assistance for women involved in over 4.2 million cases, and free legal consultations for over 20 million women.

Raising public awareness of the rule of law. China continued to formulate and implement the seventh and eighth five-year plans for popularizing legal knowledge, both of which include laws and regulations on protecting women's lawful rights and interests. The country has strengthened law promotion and interpretation efforts, and the NPC Standing Committee has organized press conferences to expound on the principles in formulating and revising the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests and the Anti-Domestic Violence Law, and share their highlights. 

Efforts have been made to raise public legal awareness through multiple channels and approaches. Since 2012, articles on protecting women's rights and interests published through the official WeChat account for law popularization have been viewed 91.36 million times, and the annual legal knowledge competition has attracted tens of millions of participants. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions has organized legal awareness activities for female employees for 11 consecutive years, and women's federations at all levels across China have held more than 3.76 million events to raise legal awareness and provide legal services since 2016, with the participation of over 400 million women. 

In 2024, courts and procuratorates across the country, in conjunction with women's federations, organized more than 4,200 open day events on safeguarding the rights and interests of women and children and released over 3,800 typical cases. A legal education program for rural women reached more than 86 percent of China's rural areas.

4. Creating an Equal and Harmonious Social Environment

Vigorously promoting the fundamental national policy of gender equality. China has carried out targeted public education on gender equality across multiple dimensions and through multiple channels, promoting this basic national policy in government departments, schools, enterprises, urban and rural communities, and families. 

For Party and government leaders, the Implementation of Gender Equality as a Basic National Policy has been compiled as a coursebook and incorporated into the curriculum and teaching plans of Party schools. For students, education on gender equality has been promoted in elementary and high schools, as well as in universities, and integrated into textbook planning and regulatory standards, and guides for related courses. Gender balance is emphasized in textbook illustrations, and excellent female writers have seen greater representation in textbooks, to eliminate gender stereotypes in teaching materials. 

For the general public, gender equality has been incorporated into cultural and ethical development in both urban and rural communities, into self-regulations and rules for their residents, and into efforts to cultivate good family ties, values, and traditions. Party members and officials, experts, scholars, and those who work in women's affairs have given talks and lectures, and engaged in public communication on gender equality in approachable and popular forms, enabling the public to understand this basic national policy and apply it in their daily lives.

Strengthening the awareness of gender equality in the media. The Advertising Law and other relevant laws, as well as the Outline of Women's Development in China, all stipulate regulations regarding gender equality assessment and supervision in the media, prohibiting reports or advertisements with contents that disparage, undermine, or infringe upon women's dignity. 

Gender equality reviews have been conducted throughout the script development, production, screening, and distribution of films and TV programs. News outlets have issued lists of prohibited and offensive terms to eliminate discriminatory expressions in news reports. Media organizations have implemented a social responsibility reporting system and upheld the professional ethic of safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of women, children, the elderly, and the disabled and protecting their physical and mental health. 

The stories of women role models have been told through media coverage, special releases and events in recognition of their contribution, showcasing patriotism, devotion to the people, perseverance and progress in the face of challenges, and commitment to virtue and good deeds. Gender equality has now become a widely accepted social norm.

Creating a clean cyberspace. China has issued judicial interpretations, released exemplary cases, and carried out special operations to combat fraud, abduction, trafficking, rape, and other crimes against women and children committed or facilitated through online channels. Offenses that infringe upon women's personality rights, such as the illegal disclosure of personal information, defamation, and malicious online abuse, are strictly punished. Online platforms have taken on greater responsibility by addressing illegal and inappropriate content, including removing articles and short videos that advocate a preference for sons over daughters or exaggerate family disputes. 

China has increased the supply of high-quality online content. Special campaigns have been launched to introduce new media products showcasing women in the new era and their commitment to the country, such as the theme song Blooms of China, the women's federation promotional video Together, and the family values promotional video I Love My Family. These products have reached hundreds of millions of women and families, and facilitated new progress in providing theoretical and political guidance to women. 

Efforts have also been made to improve the digital literacy of the general public, foster responsible internet usage among women, tell engaging stories of China and Chinese women, spread mainstream values, and promote positive energy online.

III. Sharing in the Fruits of Modernization

Eradicating poverty, improving living standards, and achieving common prosperity are essential tasks of socialism. China has made continuous efforts to ensure people's access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, eldercare, housing, and social assistance, meeting women's expectation for a better life.

1. Elimination of Absolute Poverty

China has organized the largest and most intensive poverty alleviation campaign in human history, benefiting the greatest number of people. By the end of 2020, it had successfully eliminated absolute poverty throughout the country, meeting the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. On this epic journey of poverty reduction, China has honored its solemn commitment that no one should be left behind, specifically targeting women as a key group to widen their path towards prosperity.

Taking targeted measures to guarantee basic living needs. China has adopted a targeted strategy in poverty alleviation. Under this framework, it maintains detailed records on the distribution of impoverished populations, the underlying causes of poverty, the specific categories of poverty, and the expectations of the poor. This approach guarantees the implementation of targeted efforts in six areas: identification of those in need, project arrangement, capital utilization, the introduction of household-specific measures, the dispatch of officials to villages based on local conditions, and the achievement of set goals. As a result, women, who comprise approximately half of the impoverished population, have benefited from targeted resource allocation. 

The Health Program for Poverty Alleviation and its health promotion campaigns have guaranteed access to basic medical and health services for impoverished rural women. 

Through education initiatives for poverty alleviation, compulsory education in impoverished areas has been steadily improved, ensuring that no school-age girls from poor families drop out of school due to poverty. 

Social security systems have been strengthened to ensure eligible women on the list of the registered poor receive subsistence allowances or assistance and support for the extremely poor.

Renovation of dilapidated houses in rural areas, particularly in severely impoverished areas, has been subsidized by the government. Relocation projects have helped over 9.6 million people, who originally lived in inhospitable areas, to emerge from poverty and seek development.

The basic food and clothing needs of impoverished women have been guaranteed, and their access to compulsory education, basic medical services, and safe housing has been ensured.

After winning the battle against absolute poverty, the country initiated a five-year transition period during which poverty alleviation support policies remained in effect to buttress areas and populations that had recently emerged from poverty. Based on the stable operation of such policies, a robust dynamic monitoring and assistance mechanism has been established to prevent any relapse into or occurrence of poverty, and support remains in place for women lifted out of poverty and those in low-income areas to participate in the local economy, seek more employment opportunities, and increase incomes.

Boosting the economy to create job opportunities for women and raise their income. China is committed to the policy of development-driven poverty alleviation to empower impoverished women. 

It has strengthened industrial support by facilitating the gradient transfer of labor-intensive industries such as food processing and clothing manufacturing, benefitting 98.9 percent of poor households. By advancing east-west cooperation in labor services, setting up poverty alleviation workshops, and creating public-interest rural jobs, the country has provided job opportunities for poor women with the will and ability to work. In its efforts to alleviate poverty, China has leveraged new forms of business and industries such as e-commerce programs, photovoltaic technology, and tourism to help impoverished women find good jobs within their local communities. In ethnic minority areas, the transition of the hand-knitting business from a purely traditional craft to a driver of the local economy has transformed the lives of the women embroidery artisans in the Miao and Yi communities.

China has increased fiscal and financial support. In the critical battle against poverty, special supportive polices such as offering subsidized loans requiring no collateral or guarantee and tax reductions or exemptions were introduced. Cumulatively, over RMB450 billion in guaranteed microloans and poverty alleviation microcredit were disbursed to women in need, and 8.7 million impoverished women saw their income increased through entrepreneurship. From 2021 to 2024, the country sustained a flow of microcredit designated for people recently lifted out of poverty, of which RMB76.83 billion were offered to nearly 1.93 million women.

Efforts in skills training have been strengthened, with training courses on vocational skills, entrepreneurship, and practical agricultural technology being held through multiple channels, at multiple levels, and in multiple forms. As of 2020, training programs had been organized for a total of 10.21 million impoverished women and female technicians. From 2023 to 2024, the Rain and Dew Program sponsored 632,000 women to receive vocational education, allowing them to continue their march out of poverty.

Increasing input to break the bottlenecks constraining women's development. China has advanced infrastructure development, fundamentally solving many of the issues impeding women's development in impoverished areas, such as insufficient access to transport, electricity, water and communications. Where conditions permit, all towns, townships, and administrative villages have been connected to paved roads and provided with bus and postal services. Full coverage of reliable power supply has been largely realized in rural areas. All counties have access to gigabit internet, all townships to 5G services, and all villages to broadband connections. By the end of 2024, 94 percent of the rural population had enjoyed access to tap water.

2. Notable Improvement in Health

Prioritizing people's health in its development strategy, China makes all-out efforts to build a healthy China, with women's and children's health the cornerstone of this work. By consolidating and improving institutional arrangements and optimizing resource allocation, the country provides women with full life-circle health services.

Continuous improvement of the maternal and child healthcare system. China has integrated its maternal and child healthcare network into its national medical and healthcare framework that covers its 1.4 billion people. A service system for maternal and child healthcare has been built, with maternal and child healthcare institutions as the core, community-level medical and healthcare institutions as the foundation, and medium and large hospitals and research institutes as the pillars. 

From 2012 to 2023, the number of health professionals at maternal and child healthcare institutions increased from 277,000 to 537,000, with an annual growth rate of over 6 percent; the actual number of beds rose from 187,000 to 295,000, up by nearly 60 percent. At present, China has 3,081 maternal and child healthcare institutions, 3,491 treatment centers for high-risk and critically ill pregnant and postpartum women, and 3,221 treatment centers for critically ill neonates. More than 2,600 traditional Chinese medicine hospitals at Grade II and above have gynecological departments. 

The "internet plus maternal and child healthcare" service model has been developed, and training sessions and guidance for treating pregnant and postpartum women in severe and critical conditions have been provided through 31 provincial-level "cloud-based maternal and child healthcare" telemedicine platforms, making maternal and child healthcare services much more equitable.

Breakthroughs in solving key issues in women's health. China has strengthened its resource coordination to integrate the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B into major public health service programs. In 2024, the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission in China fell to 1.2 percent, meeting the targets for eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. 

China has promoted the comprehensive prevention and treatment of cervical cancer and breast cancer. Between 2009 and 2024, 342 million free screenings for cervical cancer and 245 million free screenings for breast cancer were carried out nationwide, and between 2012 and 2024, the central government allocated RMB3.01 billion for treatment and support for women with these forms of cancer. HPV vaccination has been incorporated into the government's public welfare initiatives in 18 provinces as of June 2025, benefiting 5 million girls of eligible age annually through free vaccination programs. 

A group of specialty branches and outpatient departments focusing on women's healthcare have been established, covering the entire process of childbearing and women's full life cycle. 

A reproductive health promotion campaign has been carried out. By the end of 2024, youth health education services had been provided in more than 10,000 elementary and high schools and more than 1,000 higher education institutions across the country. 

The campaign to raise national health awareness, the initiative to build healthy families, the Healthy China: Mother's Action, and other initiatives have been rolled out to guide women to lead their family members and the wider society in raising health awareness and health management capacity.

Remarkable improvement in women's health. In 2020, the average life expectancy of women in China rose to 80.9 years. 

Since 2012, the national hospital delivery rate has remained above 99 percent, and in 2024, the systematic maternal management rate reached 94.9 percent. The maternal mortality rate has dropped by 76.9 percent, from 61.9 per 100,000 in 1995 to 14.3 per 100,000 in 2024 - far below the global average.

In terms of core maternal and child health indicators, namely maternal, infant, and under-five mortality rates, China ranks among the top in global upper-middle-income countries. It has met the relevant targets of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ahead of schedule and has been recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the 10 high performing countries in maternal and child health outcomes. 

3. Substantial Increase in Women's Education Level

In building up its strength in education and coordinating integrated reforms of educational, sci-tech and talent systems and mechanisms, China has made tremendous efforts to ensure women's equitable access to education of all categories and levels, raise women's scientific literacy and promote life-long education for them. As a result, women's right to education has been effectively guaranteed.

Gender divide in basic education has been largely eliminated. China has implemented four consecutive preschool education action plans. In 2024, girls accounted for 47.3 percent of children in kindergartens, totaling 16.94 million.

China promotes the high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education, and has accelerated efforts to narrow the educational gaps between regions, schools, groups, and between urban and rural areas. The net elementary education enrollment rate of school-age girls stays above 99.9 percent, and in 2024, girls made up 46.98 percent of students of nine-year compulsory education. 

The Plan to Popularize Senior High School Education (2017-2020) and the Action Plan to Develop County-level Senior High Schools During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) Period have been implemented nationwide, and the proportion of girls among the senior high school population is continuing to rise, standing at 49.3 percent in 2024.

A rough balance between male and female students in higher education has been achieved. China has made sustained efforts to develop the world's largest higher education system, cement and advance accessibility in higher education, and ensure gender equality in the enrollment of regular institutions of higher learning. In 2024, female students in these institutions made up 50.76 percent of the total, 14.15 percentage points higher than in 1995. Among them, female graduate students accounted for 50.01 percent, an increase of 22.43 percentage points from 1995. 

Women enjoy higher-quality vocational education and life-long education. China has speeded up its efforts to build a modern vocational education system and offers assistance to eligible students in the form of tuition exemptions, scholarships, grants, and student loans. As a result, women are enjoying more and better access to high-quality vocational education. In 2024, female students accounted for 47.9 percent of higher vocational school students at the undergraduate and junior college levels, and 45.2 percent of secondary vocational school students. 

The women's life-long learning system has become more open and flexible, with the establishment of the national smart education platform for life-long education offering a more convenient and accessible channel that meets women's diverse learning needs. The number of women receiving adult education continues to rise steadily year on year, and in 2024, female students at adult education institutions at the undergraduate and junior college levels numbered 5.13 million, 54 percent of the total, representing an increase of 1.96 million compared to 2012. In 2020, the average length of schooling for female citizens at or above the age of 15 reached 9.59 years.

Women's scientific literacy is on the rise. The Chinese government has promulgated the Outline of the Action Plan for Improving Scientific Literacy for All (2021-2035), which covers raising women's scientific literacy. 

It has issued the Guidelines for Science Education in Elementary and High Schools, improved the curriculum, textbooks, experimental teaching, teachers' training, and extra-curricular activity programs of these schools, and enhanced the coordination and transformation of science education resources. 

To inspire and cultivate female students' interests in science, public-interest programs aimed at female students have been rolled out, including the Science Lovers Program for Female College Students, Science Empowering Girls, Spring Bud InnoGirls Program, STEM Girls, and Her Science.

A program for raising the capabilities of female employees has also been implemented, and, in particular, efforts have been made to help them improve digital skills. 

Thanks to these initiatives and more, the gender gap in scientific literacy is continuing to narrow. The female sci-tech talent pool continues to expand in scale, improve in structure, and grow in capability, with female scientists now regularly making outstanding contributions in various fields, including basic theory, applied technology, and engineering. In 2024, female R&D professionals numbered 2.85 million, representing an increase of 1.69 million from that in 2012.

4. Continuous Improvement in Social Security

China has established the world's largest social security system. Built on the principle of ensuring universal coverage for all eligible individuals, the system aims to narrow urban-rural disparities, improve social security policies for key groups, strengthen support for women in difficulty, and steadily raise benefit levels. As a result of this system, women now enjoy more comprehensive, reliable and equitable social security.

Medical and old-age insurance systems achieved full coverage. China's healthcare security system has been continuously improved, supported by increased government subsidies for individual contributions to basic medical insurance among rural and non-working urban residents. 

In 2024, 651 million women were covered by basic medical insurance, accounting for 49.1 percent of all participants. Additionally, 260 million women were covered by basic pension insurance for rural and non-working urban residents, representing 48 percent of all enrollees, while 260 million women participated in the basic pension scheme for urban employees, constituting 48.2 percent of the total.

More women are protected against unemployment and work-related injuries. Efforts have been made to safeguard employees' employment security, occupational safety, and health protections. By the end of 2024, approximately 105 million women were enrolled in unemployment insurance, accounting for 42.7 percent of all participants and reflecting a 70 percent increase since 2012. Additionally, about 117 million women were covered by work-related injury insurance, comprising 38.6 percent of all enrollees, and reflecting a 60 percent increase since 2012. 

Specific measures have been introduced to ensure that workers in new forms of employment receive effective assistance and compensation in case of occupational injuries. Real-time settlement of medical expenses for work-related injuries incurred outside the provincial-level unit where the patient is insured has been fully implemented, protecting the rights and interests of female workers and better meeting their healthcare needs. 

Maternity protection for women has improved significantly. The integrated implementation of maternity insurance and basic medical insurance for employees has been fully advanced, and continuous efforts have been made to expand employer participation in maternity insurance and to gradually extend its coverage. Regions with the necessary conditions have been guided to include flexibly employed people in maternity insurance. For unemployed women, the unemployment insurance fund pay their maternity insurance contributions on their behalf during their period of unemployment benefit eligibility, while non-working women are covered for maternity medical benefits through their participation in the basic medical insurance scheme for rural and non-working urban residents. By the end of 2024, 111 million women were covered by maternity insurance. All 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, have included eligible assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in their medical insurance schemes.

Social security for women in need is further strengthened. Subsistence allowance standards have continued to rise, with the national average urban and rural subsistence allowance standards in 2024 140 percent and 240 percent higher than those of 2012, respectively. 

Financial assistance or premium payments are provided for women from eligible disadvantaged groups, such as those receiving subsistence allowances or classified as extremely impoverished individuals, to participate in basic medical and pension insurance schemes for rural and non-working urban residents. 

A comprehensive system of living subsidies for persons with disabilities facing financial difficulties and nursing subsidies for those with severe disabilities has been established. In 2024, about 9.40 million women received these subsidies, accounting for 46 percent of all recipients. 

Targeted assistance and support initiatives have been implemented for rural stay-behind women in difficult circumstances, including efforts to establish records, ensure basic living standards, promote employment and income generation, and enrich cultural lives.

5. Improved Family Lives

China places emphasis on fostering family culture, values, and traditions, recognizing the unique role of women in both social and family life. Efforts continue to be made to leverage women's distinctive contributions in promoting traditional Chinese family virtues and establishing positive family traditions. Policies supporting family development are continuously improved, enhancing families' capacity for development and creating favorable conditions for women to enjoy better family lives.

More equal and harmonious family relations in the new era. Laws and regulations including the Civil Code, the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests, and the Anti-Domestic Violence Law have been promulgated to protect women's rights within marriage and the family. 

A new marital and childbearing culture is widely promoted. Marriage and family counseling services are widely available at marriage registration authorities at or above the county level nationwide. Over 2,000 pilot units are advancing marriage customs reform, and activities such as "bringing new marriage and childbearing norms into households" are continuously carried out to promote values including gender equality, mutual respect, and shared parenting responsibilities between couples. 

The Fourth Survey on the Social Status of Women in China shows that 90 percent of married women participate in decision-making on major family matters, an increase of approximately 15 percentage points compared to 2010. The gender gap in time spent on household chores has narrowed, and there is a growing emphasis on marital relationships based on mutual respect and trust.

A family-friendly society gradually in shape. To meet the demands of high-quality population development and family wellbeing, measures have been introduced to improve childbirth support policies and develop a childbirth-friendly society. 

The childbirth leave system has been enhanced, with local regulations extending maternity leave and paternity leave and introducing parental childcare leave. Special additional deductions for individual income tax have been implemented, covering expenses for under-three children nursing, eldercare, and children's education. A childcare subsidy system has been established and implemented, while free pre-school education has been promoted in a phased way. 

Employers are encouraged to create "family-friendly workplaces" by adopting flexible working hours or remote work options after negotiating with employees to support them in both career development and childcare. 

Nursing facilities have been provided. By the end of 2024, 403,000 enterprises and public institutions with trade unions had set up nursing rooms for female employees. The provision of baby care rooms in public places has also been expanded, and design standards such as the Uniform Standard for the Design of Civil Buildings, the Standard for the Design of Office Buildings, and the Code for the Design of Railway Passenger Station Buildings now include requirements for such facilities. By the end of 2024, 1,449 baby care rooms had been established in railway stations; 5,371 in highway service areas (including parking areas); 286 on passenger ships and in port passenger terminals; 2,308 in secondary and above-grade bus stations; 2,599 in urban rail transit stations; and nursing rooms in all civilian airports with an annual passenger throughput of 5,000 or more.

More diverse services to reduce family care burden. A variety of childcare services are provided to families, including full-day, half-day, and temporary care options, and employers are also supported in establishing childcare facilities. By the end of 2024, there were 5.74 million childcare slots nationwide, with 4.08 slots per 1,000 people for children under three. 

A family education guidance service system covering both urban and rural areas has been established. Relying on over 400,000 parent schools in urban and rural communities and more than 20,000 online new media platforms, family education guidance service teams have worked to organize rich and diverse parent-child activities, bringing scientific family education guidance services directly to households and communities. 

The eldercare framework has been optimized, where home care is supported by communities and professional institutions, featuring a combination of medical care and eldercare services. Services such as meal assistance, bathing aid, home modifications for the elderly, and barrier-free renovations for financially difficult families with members with severe disabilities have become more accessible. 

The domestic service sector continues to improve in quality and expand in scale. By the end of 2023, there were approximately 600,000 domestic service entities and 16,000 women-led domestic service community stations. National domestic service vocational skills competitions have been held to encourage skill enhancement among people working in this sector, provide a growth platform for more of them, and deliver high-quality services to families.

IV. Advancing Women's Development to the Forefront of the Times

On the new journey of Chinese modernization, every individual plays a key role. Connecting their own future with that of the country and the nation, Chinese women have devoted themselves to the building of a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. They have attained major achievements in the new era, creating a better life through action and hard work.

1. Achievements in Promoting High-Quality Economic Development

In promoting high-quality economic development, China is committed to expanding channels for women's participation, improving their capabilities, and stimulating their creativity. Women are "holding up half the sky" and playing an increasingly prominent role.

Realizing potential in employment and entrepreneurship. Upholding employment as a priority, China has increased fiscal investment, and implemented initiatives such as the Women's Action for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Action for Promoting Women's Employment and Entrepreneurship. Special recruitment sections and events for women have been held, sponsored by the National Employment Promotion Action and Spring Breeze Action, aiming to help more women find better jobs. 

Gender discrimination in employment has been placed under the scrutiny of labor protection supervision. The System of Special Labor Protection for Female Employees in the Workplace (Reference Text) and the System for Eliminating Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Reference Text) have been formulated as guidelines for employers to improve their corresponding systems for protecting female employees' lawful rights and interests. 

By the end of 2024, RMB640 billion in loans had been provided to support 8.49 million women in realizing their entrepreneurial dreams. Since 2012, women have accounted for about 43 percent of the total employed population. According to the fifth national economic census in 2024, 42.6 percent of the employees in government agencies, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises were women, an increase of 3.6 percentage points compared to the fourth census. 

The scale of women's accomplishments is reflected in their significant representation among national honorees: They constitute 34 percent of the National Moral Models and 30.9 percent of the Most Beautiful Souls and National Exemplary Educators. Since 2012, a total of 1,821 women have been awarded the titles of National Model Workers and Advanced Workers, 1,957 have received the National May 1st Labor Medal, 5,001 have been honored as National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetters, and 6,489 recognized as National Role Models for Women's Achievements.

Pioneering innovation in science and technology. As part of the efforts to implement the Women's Action for Scientific and Technological Innovation, China has formulated the Measures on Supporting Female Talent to Play a Greater Role in Sci-Tech Innovation, which outline 16 concrete measures, including supporting female scientists to undertake national sci-tech projects and participate in decision-making on sci-tech development, as well as improving evaluation and incentive mechanisms for them. 

The National Natural Science Foundation has appropriately relaxed the age limits for female applicants in Categories A, B and C of the Young Scientists Fund, raising the maximum age thresholds by three years, two years, and five years respectively, compared to their male counterparts. Leveraging platforms such as the Zhongguancun Forum, Pujiang Innovation Forum, and World AI Conference, China has launched summits and forums for women working in science and technology, and hosted the Women Technicians Forum and a range of training programs for high-caliber female sci-tech professionals. These actions have created platforms for women in STEM fields to conduct professional exchange and learning, apply their research outcomes, and serve the public. 

Today, women account for 45.8 percent of all sci-tech researchers in China. They are tackling tough problems and achieving breakthroughs in pioneering fields, overcoming daunting obstacles, and scaling new heights at the forefront of innovation, and making significant contributions to building China into a sci-tech powerhouse with greater strength and self-reliance in science and technology.

Taking the lead in rural revitalization. Through the Women's Action for Rural Revitalization, China has strengthened quality training to empower women farmers. Since 2017, the High-quality Farmer Training Program has trained over 2.24 million women farmers, and between 2022 and 2024, the project for cultivating leaders for rural industry revitalization trained 12,000 female individuals.

The achievements of women in rural revitalization have been recognized through initiatives like the Double Hundred and Double Thousand Initiative, which recognizes outstanding rural craftspeople, 100 of whom in the first batch were women, accounting for 36.6 percent of the total. In the final round of the first National Farmers’ Skills Competition, female participants comprised 69.5 percent of all winners. Furthermore, by the end of 2024, 134,000 female workers responsible for extending agricultural technologies and services had obtained professional titles, representing 35.4 percent of the total.

Pursuing excellence in the digital economy. China has issued the Action Plan for Strengthening the Digital Literacy and Skills of the General Public and the Action Plan for Digital Rural Development, which include measures such as carrying out digital literacy education and skills training for women and developing women-led e-commerce brands. Chinese women have answered the call of the digital age, and are committed to developing the digital economy, with 14,147 women obtaining the vocational skills certificates for AI trainers in 2024 alone – comprising 42.3 percent of the yearly total. Women represent over half of the entrepreneurs in the internet sector and about one third of the workforce engaging in new business forms such as digital trade, e-commerce, and live streaming. As the digital economy advances, it is providing more opportunities for women. 

2. Equal Participation in Whole-Process People's Democracy

As China advances whole-process people's democracy, it remains committed to increasing women's participation in the management of state, economic, cultural and social affairs. Women enjoy equal political rights and actively participate in democratic practices, contributing their strengths with great enthusiasm.

Exercising state power through the people's congresses. The proportion of women in people's congresses at all levels continues to rise. In the 14th NPC convened in 2023, there were 790 women deputies, accounting for 26.5 percent of the total. This represents an increase of 3.1 percentage points from the 12th NPC and 1.6 percentage points from the 13th NPC. At the county and township levels, women constitute 31.64 percent and 32.36 percent of deputies, respectively. These women deputies fulfill their duties in accordance with the law, soliciting and reflecting public opinion from all sectors of society. Between 2018 and 2025, NPC women deputies put forward 29,328 suggestions, criticisms and opinions, accounting for 42.3 percent of the total.

Discussing state affairs and making suggestions at consultative meetings of the CPPCC. The proportion of female members in the CPPCC National Committee and local committees has seen a consistent increase. In 2023, 487 female members served on the National Committee of the 14th CPPCC, accounting for 22.4 percent of the total - an increase of 4.6 percentage points and 2 percentage points from the 12th CPPCC and 13th CPPCC, respectively. In the same year, there were 5,401 female members on the provincial-level committees of the CPPCC, accounting for 27.36 percent of the membership at this level. The female members fulfill their duties in full and play a major role in political consultation, democratic supervision, and the deliberation and administration of state affairs. Since the 14th CPPCC National Committee, female members have submitted 4,282 proposals, representing 26.6 percent of the total.

Actively engaging in decision-making and administration. China attaches importance to the cultivation and selection of female officials and the recruitment of women into the CPC. It has formulated and implemented outlines for strengthening Party and government leadership teams and on women's development, which set specific quantitative and proportional requirements for the appointment of female officials and female heads of leadership bodies. These goals are expected to be met while strict quality standards are upheld. 

The proportions of women among the CPC membership and delegates to the Party congresses are increasing. In 2024, 30.9 percent of CPC members were female, an increase of 7.1 percentage points compared to the 2012 level. Female Party members accounted for 27 percent of the delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress, an increase of 4 percentage points from the Party's 18th National Congress in 2012. Women represent 42.3 percent, 43.78 percent, and 51.5 percent of all the judges, prosecutors and jurors nationwide. 

Extensively participating in grassroots democracy. Effective measures have been taken in the villagers committee elections to expand women's membership. In 2022, women constituted 26.1 percent of villagers committee members and 54.3 percent of urban residents committee members, an increase of 4 percentage points and 5.5 percentage points, respectively, from 2012 levels. 

Female workers play an active role in democratic management in enterprises. In 2023, women employees made up 37.7 percent, 41.9 percent, and 34.2 percent of the boards of directors, boards of supervisors, and workers' congress representatives, increasing by 11.4 percentage points, 14.9 percentage points, and 4.4 percentage points, respectively, compared to 2012. A total of 431,000 councils of women have been established in urban and rural communities, facilitating extensive consultations on public affairs concerning women's immediate interests.

3. Excellence in a Flourishing Culture

In developing a thriving socialist culture, China has given full play to women's role in creating cultural wealth and cultivated female talent in the cultural sector. Through innovation and with creativity, women have made a significant contribution to preserving cultural heritage and promoting the best of traditional Chinese culture.

Demonstrating vitality at the forefront of culture and communication. Women have become a pillar of cultural prosperity and development and are playing an increasingly important role in cultural creation, communication and studies. Female writers and artists have produced masterpieces that have shaped the image of women in the new era, as varied as the Peking Opera Mother, ballet Yimeng, prose works My Altay, TV series She and Her Girls, movie Huang Wenxiu, documentary Aunt Haiyun, variety shows The Daughters of Chinese Villages and Sisters Who Make Waves 2024, and short drama Got Old Recently. 

By the end of 2023, about 456,900 women across the country were employed in the radio, television, and online audio-visual sectors, comprising 43.14 percent of the total employees. In the senior professional title evaluations for the journalism section organized by the National Press and Publication Administration in 2024, women accounted for 44.1 percent of those receiving senior professional titles and 50.6 percent of those gaining associate senior ones. 

Women constitute 27.5 percent of participants in key talent initiatives in the field of public communication and culture, including 45.2 percent of successful candidates in the cultural talent program and 42.5 percent in the youth cultural talent program under the National Cultural Talent of Excellence Initiative. Through their work in culture and communication, women have vigorously committed themselves in the promotion and practice of the core socialist values.

Showing strengths in preserving and vitalizing ethnic cultures. By passing down traditional crafts and facilitating cultural innovation and dissemination, women are injecting new vitality into ethnic cultures. Among the 3,997 recognized representative bearers of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items on the national list, 25 percent are women. The research and training program for ICH bearers has provided training for 51,000 people, with women accounting for 57 percent. Under the plan on revitalizing traditional Chinese craftsmanship and the specialized initiatives to revitalize rural areas by promoting ICH, many women have played a leading role in transforming local natural resources and rural cultural assets into cultural products and industries. Handicraft brands such as "Dove Flower: Songtao's Miao Embroidery" in Guizhou and "Weiyuan Tu Ethnic Coiling Embroidery" in Qinghai are shining examples of this transformation. 

New business models - often fronted by women - such as "ICH plus guesthouses", "ICH plus cultural products", and "ICH plus study trips" have also been launched in recent years, breathing new life into traditional ethnic cultures. The rise of digital technology has allowed traditional culture to flourish again, and an increasing number of young women now play a central role in promoting the "China-Chic" trend and preserving and vitalizing ICH, facilitating ICH's integration in modern life and helping it reach a global audience.

Excelling in both competitive and mass leisure sports. The Outline for Building a Strong Sporting Nation has explicitly set the goal of achieving balanced development between men's and women's events. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games issued a Gender Equality Commitment covering 14 specific areas, including equal participation, gender-equal and fair portrayal, and gender equality in leadership and workforce. 

The number of female elite athletes in China has witnessed rapid growth, and the proportion of international-level female athletes has remained above 50 percent. Since 2012, across the four consecutive Summer Olympic Games, female athletes have accounted for over 55 percent of competitors and won over 60 percent of the medals. During the same period across the four Paralympic Games, women have made up 50.22 percent of participants and secured 55.62 percent of the medals. Female athletes fight for their nations, collaborate in unity, and challenge their limits, playing an equal role as their male counterparts in competitive sports. The fighting spirit of the Chinese women's volleyball team has inspired the Chinese people to this day. 

Extensive fitness-for-all programs are carried out nationwide, and a program of cultivating female community sports instructors in rural areas has provided training for over 65,000 women in 10,000 villages. By the end of 2024, there were about 3.71 million community sports instructors across the country, among which 56.1 percent were women, demonstrating women's leadership and responsibility in advancing China's fitness-for-all initiative in the new era.

4. Women's Undertakings in Grassroots Social Governance

In building a grassroots social governance model based on collaboration, participation, and common interests, China has attached great importance to the role of women and women's organizations, expanded the channels for their orderly participation in grassroots governance, and ensured their involvement in managing grassroots-level public affairs and public-interest undertakings in accordance with the law. Chinese women have excelled in these roles, becoming a major force in grassroots governance.

The positive role of family ties, values, and traditions in grassroots governance. China has improved mechanisms that help to foster family virtues, facilitate education cooperation between families, schools and society, deliver more accessible family services, and resolve marital and family disputes, supporting women in nurturing harmony within households, and thus contributing to a more peaceful and harmonious society for all. 

Family virtue cultivation activities such as the selection of the "Most Beautiful Families", "Model Families", and "Five-Virtue Families", and initiatives like "Share Your Family Rules, Mottoes, and Values", "Family Virtues in Letters", and "Family Education Cultivates Values and Virtues" have been organized. These activities champion the new socialist family morality and values, emphasizing love for the country and family, mutual care, devotion to progress and kindness, and joint efforts with shared benefits. A total of 1,597 households have been honored as "National Model Families", 6,258 as "National Five-Virtue Families", and 16.48 million as the "Most Beautiful Families". Additionally, more than 500,000 lectures, exhibitions and performances on family values and traditions have been hosted around the country, attracting a combined attendance of 250 million people.

Women's extensive participation in building a peaceful and harmonious community. Women actively participate in the comprehensive maintenance of public order and contribute to resolving problems and disputes at the grassroots level. Local governments have been exploring a "Women's Federations Plus" mediation model. By the end of 2024, 3,690 mediation commissions above the county level for resolving marriage and family disputes had been established under the leadership of women's federations. Marriage mediation organizations now provide service at comprehensive governance centers, litigation service centers, and community police offices, and marriage mediation offices have been established at the village and community level. Since 2016, nearly 1.36 million cases have been resolved through mediation. In 2023, 295 women mediators were commended by the Ministry of Justice as National Model Mediators, accounting for 29.5 percent of those recognized.

Women also play an active part in patrols for maintaining order and in supervision. The "Jiangdong Aunties" team in Jingkou District, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province has completed 5,000 hours of voluntary patrols and participated in over 1,000 public service activities since its establishment in 2017. The "Xicheng Aunties" in Beijing and women community liaisons in Weinan City, Shaanxi Province, have promptly identified and reported potential risks for social governance, working at the forefront of conflict resolution at the grassroots level. Women acting as community workers, grid managers, and residential building chiefs have made significant contributions to building a peaceful and harmonious community.

Active engagement in voluntary service and other public-interest programs. China emphasizes the healthy development of voluntary services and social organizations, among which women play an active role. In 2024, there were 24 million women registered as volunteers and 350,000 women volunteer teams. These volunteers play an important role in promoting national strategies, improving the people's wellbeing, and strengthening social governance. They have provided nearly one million voluntary services, covering all 17 goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The number of women in social organizations is on the rise. In 2023, women comprised 42.3 percent of the staff and 26.3 percent of the heads of social organizations respectively, up by 13.3 and 4.9 percentage points from 2012.

5. Women's Contributions in the Eco-environmental Field

China upholds and acts on the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and promotes modernization based on harmony between humanity and nature by following a path of green development that gives priority to eco-environmental conservation. Women play an important role in building a beautiful China, and are continuing to develop the awareness and skills required to drive forward eco-environmental protection.

Promoting ecosystem protection and restoration. China pursues the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands and deserts, with the aim of establishing an overarching framework that extends from the mountaintops to the oceans. Women play a significant role in the nation's ecosystem protection and restoration. Among the 17,000 eco-environmental guardians working at the 190,700 sq km Sanjiangyuan National Park, 33.3 percent are women. The Women Tree-Planting Team in Changjiang Li Autonomous County of Hainan Province has been dedicated to planting more than six million coastal defense trees, establishing a forest spanning over 2,000 hectares in the desert after 30 years of trial and error. The women's militia company for sand control in Shaanxi Province has converted more than 933.33 hectares of barren deserts into oases covered with rows of trees over the past five decades. The women's volunteer team in Helan County of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region conducts regular activities to protect rivers, shoals, and birds, and the Women's Action for the Yangtze River Protection is an ongoing activity in Nanjing City of Jiangsu Province to provide vital protection for China's longest river. Women's perseverance and wisdom are shown in many aspects of eco-environmental protection, from green coverage expansion and desertification prevention and control, to the protection of forests, rivers, and biodiversity.

Accelerating the green transformation of production models. China upholds green and low-carbon development as a fundamental approach to resolving environmental problems, and promotes a sound economic structure that facilitates green, low-carbon, and circular development. Women actively participate in the efforts to promote green development in industry, shift the production model of agriculture, and improve the sustainable level of the service industry. By 2024, the number of companies in the green economy sector invested in by women entrepreneurs had reached 445,000, accounting for 27.4 percent of the total. These companies cover a range of market segments, including clean energy, organic agriculture, and eco-conservation. Scientific management of fertilizer and pesticide use and innovative ecological planting serve to save agricultural resources, improve the eco-environment of agricultural production areas, and supply high-quality green agricultural products, promoting the triple-win of less pesticide use, more income, and better environment. New models of eco-environmental businesses have been established, including urban modern agriculture, leisure agriculture, eco-tourism, high-quality homestays, and rural complexes. By the end of 2024, the number of family farms run by women reached 487,000, and women accounted for 68.6 percent of all holders of vocational skill certificates in rural homestay housekeeping. 

Living a green lifestyle. Green development is closely connected to each of our lives. Chinese women advocate the values of eco-civilization and encourage simple, moderate, green, low-carbon, sound and healthy ways of life and consumption by integrating these concepts into everyday routines. They have played a leading role in building green families through saving water and electricity, participating in the "Clear Your Plate" campaign, using green modes of transport, and engaging in waste sorting. Women also actively participate in developing beautiful courtyards and harmonious villages, guided by standards such as tidy rooms, hygienic kitchens and toilets, neat courtyards, abundant greenery, and harmonious families. To date, more than 12 million households have been awarded the title of "Beautiful Courtyard". Women are consistently in the frontline of enhancing public awareness of environmental protection and improving community environment. For example, in Shanghai, a themed campaign was launched to find 10,000 families living a green lifestyle and recruit 100,000 family waste sorting volunteers, creating a good atmosphere for the million families participating in this endeavor.

Participating in disaster prevention and mitigation. China regards people's lives and safety as the primary goal of disaster prevention and mitigation. It boosts public participation and improves the capabilities of the whole society to defend and respond to disasters, and women play a key role in this - particularly in investigation and identification of potential risks and hidden dangers, early warning and treatment, and information reporting. In 2024, women accounted for 23.6 percent of disaster information assistants nationwide, totaling 267,000, and comprised 61.6 percent of national chief meteorological experts. Women actively participate in disaster relief operations and public education on disaster prevention and mitigation, and promote family education in relevant fields. There are 13.71 million registered women fire volunteers nationwide, representing 52.4 percent of the total. The National Natural Disaster Emergency Relief Plan put forward requirements for safeguarding the rights and interests of special groups. Through the collaborative efforts of the government and society, material guarantee for special needs, such as women's hygiene products and supplies for pregnant and postpartum women, has been strengthened.

V. Contributing to the Global Advancement of Women

China upholds the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, aligns with the prevailing global trends towards peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, and actively advances the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative. Through close cooperation with other countries, China is helping accelerate the creation of an international environment conducive to women's development and a better world for all.

1. Participating in Global Governance on Women's Issues

China plays a leading role in implementing the spirit of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women and advances global governance on women's issues through concrete actions.

Supporting the central role of the United Nations. China has co-hosted the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment with UN Women to encourage countries to fulfill their commitments and inject new momentum into the global advancement of women. At the UN Human Rights Council, China has repeatedly delivered joint statements on promoting and protecting women's rights, pushed for the adoption of relevant resolutions, and called on countries to work together to implement the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action. China consistently sends high-level delegations to the sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and collaborates with UN organizations and agencies to conduct seminars on women's poverty reduction, the digital economy, inclusive finance, technology empowerment, and gender equality amid demographic changes, sharing China's experience in promoting women's development. Since 2015, China has donated US$20 million to UN Women and carried out practical cooperation with multiple UN specialized agencies on women's issues. In partnership with UNESCO, it has established the Prize for Girls' and Women's Education and implemented projects in Africa focusing on digital and health education for girls. Chinese women hold important positions and serve as experts in the UN system, contributing their expertise to global governance on women's issues. 

Firmly fulfilling international obligations. China fulfills its obligations under international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, regularly submits national implementation reports, and actively participates in review processes to promote gender equality and women's development. It actively implements the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, continuously improves women's living conditions and expands their development prospects, and has achieved the poverty reduction and health-related targets of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ahead of schedule. Through these efforts, China has not only improved the lives of Chinese women, but has also offered the international community its approach to safeguarding women's human rights. 

Leading and advancing multilateral and regional agendas for women's development. At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, China proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative, emphasizing the need to avoid gender bias in AI development. The country also facilitated the adoption of the Resolution on Enhancing International Cooperation in Capacity-Building of Artificial Intelligence at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, which underscores ensuring universal benefits from AI, enhancing digital inclusion and achieving gender equality while empowering women and girls. Since 2012, China has hosted 29 women's conferences under frameworks including APEC, G20, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China-ASEAN, China-Africa, China-Arab States, China-Central Asia, and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. Through these mechanisms, China has deeply engaged in cooperation on women's issues, focusing on topics including poverty reduction, development, employment, business startup, education empowerment, and pandemic response. These efforts have facilitated targeted experience-sharing, dialogues, and collaborative actions, enabling China to advocate actionable propositions for advancing women's comprehensive development, inclusivity, and sustainable development.

2. Deepening Cooperation and Exchanges to Advance Women's Development

China integrates the deepening of women's development cooperation into the frameworks of high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and South-South cooperation, to jointly promote women's sustainable development.

Advancing women's development in BRI participating countries. China actively promotes high-quality BRI cooperation. Initiatives such as the Silk Road E-commerce have created employment opportunities and pathways for women in these countries, and digital technology enablement program for women in ASEAN countries - alongside other related programs - have supported women in the region in seeking employment and starting businesses. For 10 consecutive years, China and partner countries have jointly hosted a series of events under the theme "Pool Women's Strength for Belt and Road Cooperation", encouraging women in these countries to become supporters, participants, contributors, and beneficiaries of the BRI.

Supporting women's poverty reduction and development in South-South cooperation. China supports developing countries in improving women's living conditions and development environment. It has implemented 100 maternal and child health projects and 100 happy campus projects, along with a series of small but effective public wellbeing programs focusing on housing, rural roads, and technology training to empower women and girls. Through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, China has carried out women-related projects worth nearly US$40 million across over 20 countries. Additionally, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund has allocated RMB12 million to support women's development programs. Through foreign aid training and technical assistance, Juncao technology has helped women in 106 countries gain meaningful employment. 

Deepening international cooperation in women's capacity building. China continues to strengthen and expand support training programs focused on women and children in developing countries. Since 2018, it has implemented over 100 programs in this domain, including the Seminar on Promoting Maternal and Child Health Under Global Development Initiative, and the Seminar on Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries - Women and Children. Additionally, China has launched degree programs in women's leadership and social development, training nearly 4,000 outstanding professionals in the field of women's development. An exchange and training base for global women's development cooperation has been established in Beijing to design tailored empowerment programs for women in developing countries. Training and exchange centers for Chinese and foreign women have been set up in collaboration with 15 countries, and through international cooperation in vocational education, the Luban Workshops have trained 5,944 female students, who account for 23.25 percent of all participants in the project. 

Solid progress in people-to-people exchanges in the field of women's affairs. China has actively developed global partnerships and engaged in comprehensive, multi-channel friendly exchanges with women's organizations and institutions from over 140 countries. It has conducted dialogues with foreign female political leaders, spouses of heads of state, and female government ministers, organized high-level delegations for overseas visits, and pioneered new approaches to high-level women's foreign exchanges. China has deepened women's exchanges under its cultural and people-to-people exchange mechanisms with other countries, holding thematic seminars on women's entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, education, anti-domestic violence, and family culture, while strengthening cooperation in areas such as women's rights and interests, bridging the digital gender divide, and promoting women's participation in sci-tech innovation and sustainable development. The Female Diplomats' China Adventures series has been launched to share the practical experiences of Chinese women in economic development and grassroots governance, and exchange insights on promoting gender equality. China supports women's participation in cross-cultural exchanges, with women accounting for 80 percent of dispatched Chinese-language teachers and 90 percent of volunteers in international Chinese language education.

3. Actively Addressing Global Challenges

China supports women in playing an active role in maintaining peace and security, and in addressing challenges including climate change, public health crises, and humanitarian disasters. 

Supporting women's participation in maintaining peace and security. China has taken concrete actions to implement UN Security Council resolutions on "Women, Peace and Security", supporting women's important roles in conflict prevention, peace negotiations, and post-conflict reconstruction. In 2022, the China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund initiated a training program for senior female talent to promote gender equality in high-level positions within UN peacekeeping operations. China has deployed over 1,200 female peacekeepers and more than 100 female police officers to UN missions, who have participated in medical support, liaison and coordination, mine clearance, patrols and observation, and efforts to advance gender equality and protect women.

Empowering women to address climate change. China has consistently organized training programs on South-South cooperation for climate change response, implementing a gender-balanced enrollment policy. Since 2022, nearly 300 female officials, experts and scholars from developing countries engaged in climate change projects have participated in training programs in China. From 2012 to 2024, China conducted nearly 100 foreign aid training projects in meteorological monitoring, forecasting, and services, with women accounting for 36.72 percent of the trainees. It has donated 5,000 household solar photovoltaic power generation systems and 10,000 clean cooking stoves to Myanmar, reducing indoor air pollution and its associated health risks while supporting the country's low-carbon transition. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund supported Cambodia in implementing a project on gender mainstreaming in climate action, enhancing rural women's climate adaptability and resilience.

Addressing women's needs in international humanitarian assistance. In efforts to alleviate migrant and refugee crises, China has placed high priority on women and children, encouraging women to register as recipients of household assistance supplies and providing special care for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Projects in the Republic of Congo specifically target pregnant and breastfeeding women as beneficiaries, effectively reducing malnutrition rates among women and children. In 2023, China provided over 120,000 hygiene kits, valued at US$1.5 million, to Rohingya women and girls seeking refuge in Bangladesh, benefiting more than 60,000 women and girls.

Conclusion

The pursuit of gender equality is a great cause. In the new era, the spirit of self-esteem, confidence, independence and self-reliance among Chinese women is demonstrated as the Chinese people forge ahead with resolve under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. The glorious journey of women's development in China is deeply integrated into the process of achieving the Two Centenary Goals under the Party's leadership. Never before have Chinese women enjoyed such tremendous opportunities to realize their full potential and achieve their dreams, and never before has the cause of Chinese women borne witness to such broad prospects for development.

Today, China is working to build a great country and achieve national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. This requires pooling the strength of hundreds of millions of women and promoting gender equality and women's well-rounded development at a higher level. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, China will unswervingly follow the path of women's development under socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the fundamental national policy of gender equality, and thoroughly implement the Outline of Women's Development in China to enhance women's overall capabilities. Through these efforts, the country will create conditions and platforms for women to participate in economic and social development, protect their legitimate rights and interests, and encourage them to stand at the forefront of the times.

In today's world, promoting gender equality and women's well-rounded development presents both opportunities and significant challenges. All countries must strive to create safe and secure environments for women's survival and development, eliminate violence, discrimination and poverty, and effectively address the impact of climate change. It is essential to continuously empower women, ensuring they enjoy more and better opportunities and play more significant roles in the new revolution in science, technology and industry. We must adhere to true multilateralism, honor international obligations, and promote mutual learning and people-to-people exchanges among women worldwide. China is ready to work with countries around the world to expedite actions to create a brighter future for women's development and write a new chapter in the global progress of women.