#China #Beijing #Gender Equality #Women's Development

China Champions Global Advancements in Women's Development

In a significant stride towards enhancing the role of women globally, China hosted the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women on October 15, 2025. This event marks a pivotal moment in the journey toward achieving gender equality and empowering women worldwide, especially as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the transformative 1995 Beijing Conference.

During the meeting, President Xi Jinping delivered an impactful keynote address, underscoring the essential contribution of women in societal advancement. He articulated four key initiatives designed to propel global efforts in ensuring women's rights and holistic development. These measures aim to foster a supportive environment that prioritizes women's safety and amplifies their involvement in governance strategies.

President Xi called for a concerted international approach to bolster women’s advancement, emphasizing the necessity for all nations to prioritize the eradication of violence against women and to encourage cooperative frameworks that amplify women's roles in decision-making processes.

China's Progress in Women's Rights

China has achieved remarkable progress in enhancing women's living conditions and opportunities since the 1995 Beijing Conference. Initiatives for targeted poverty alleviation have successfully lifted millions of women out of poverty, culminating in approximately 690 million women now enjoying a newly established moderate standard of living. Moreover, women represent a significant portion of the nation’s higher education demographics, accounting for over half of university students.

In the professional sphere, women's presence has surged to over 40% of the workforce. Notably, they occupy 45.8% of positions within the scientific community, represent more than half of internet entrepreneurs, and constitute 42.3% of judges across the nation. The statistics highlight a remarkable shift toward inclusivity in leadership roles traditionally dominated by men.

In terms of health and vitality, improvements are stark. Women in China now have an average life expectancy exceeding 80 years, and the maternal mortality rate has plummeted by 77% since 1995, as reported by the World Health Organization, underscoring China's advancements in maternal and child health practices.

Global Leadership in Women's Development

Beyond its domestic advancements, China has actively positioned itself as a leading advocate for women's development in the global context, particularly in underdeveloped regions. Since 2015, China has committed $20 million to UN Women and co-founded the UNESCO Prize aimed at enhancing girls' and women's education. Notably, initiatives aimed at promoting digital education and vocational training have reached numerous girls across Africa, empowering them to pursue their educational goals.

The benefits of these educational initiatives extend further, with substantial funding allocated to over 100 maternal and child health programs, along with several “Happy School” projects aimed at elevating the standards of education and living conditions for women across the Global South.

Through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, China has committed approximately $40 million to women-centric projects in over 20 countries, yielding significant results in training and capacity building for more than 200,000 women across 180 nations. The establishment of the Global Exchange and Cooperation Center for Digital Empowerment of Women aims to ensure women worldwide gain access to unparalleled opportunities.

At the culmination of the meeting, President Xi unveiled further commitments for supporting women's development over the next five years, which includes an additional $10 million allocation to UN Women, $100 million directed toward the GDF for programs benefiting women and girls, and more initiatives to invite thousands of women to partake in exchange programs in China focused on skill development and empowerment.

The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women has set the stage for a more inclusive and equitable future for women, both in China and around the globe, proving that cooperative international efforts can yield transformative outcomes in the quest for gender equality.