China Hosts Global Leaders Meeting to Empower Women's Development and Rights

China Takes the Lead in Women's Development

On October 15, 2025, China hosted a Global Leaders Meeting focusing on women's rights and comprehensive development, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Conference held in 1995. This pivotal gathering aimed to celebrate the progress made since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Action Platform, while also advancing global collaboration for women’s development. The meeting began with remarks from President Xi Jinping, who underscored the vital role that women play in promoting social progress.

A Call for Action

In his opening speech, President Xi proposed four key actions for the international community to adopt in the pursuit of gender equality and the protection of women's rights. He emphasized the importance of creating a peaceful and stable environment conducive to women’s development, strengthening mechanisms against violence, and enhancing global governance systems to promote women's participation in public affairs at the national and social levels. Xi also underscored the necessity for deeper global cooperation in women's development, advocating for the central role of the United Nations and the creation of platforms to support international collaboration.

Significant Progress in Women's Development

As the meeting unfolded, it was noted that China has made remarkable progress in women's development over recent years. Since 2013, targeted measures to alleviate poverty have lifted millions of women out of poverty, with 690 million now living in moderate prosperity. Women's representation in various sectors has also increased substantially; they now constitute over half of all university students and account for more than 40% of the workforce. Furthermore, women comprise 45.8% of China's scientific community, over half of all internet entrepreneurs, and 42.3% of judges nationwide, reflecting significant opportunities for women in leadership and professional fields.

Health and living conditions for women have seen substantial improvements as well. The average life expectancy for women has surpassed 80 years, and maternal mortality rates have dropped by 77% between 1995 and 2024. The World Health Organization has recognized China as a leader in maternal and child health outcomes.

As President Xi noted during the meeting, "On the new path of Chinese modernization, every woman is a key player."

Global Outreach and Commitment

Beyond domestic advancements, China has been an active promoter of women's development globally, particularly in developing countries. Since 2015, China has contributed $20 million to UN Women, co-established a UNESCO prize for girls' education, and initiated projects aimed at supporting digital education, healthcare, and vocational skills for girls in Africa. This UNESCO prize has aided 18 organizations across 18 countries, enabling thousands of girls to pursue their dreams.

Through over 100 maternal and child health programs and various housing, infrastructure, and educational initiatives, China has worked diligently to enhance the living and educational conditions for women in the Global South. Utilizing the Global Fund for Development and South-South Cooperation (GDF), China has implemented $40 million worth of women-focused projects in more than 20 countries, strengthening the capacities of over 200,000 women across 180 nations.

During the meeting, Xi announced further commitments for women's development. Over the next five years, China will allocate an additional $10 million to UN Women and $100 million to the GDF to support women and girls' programs, assist 1,000 "small and beautiful" projects aimed at improving women's living conditions, invite 50,000 women to China for exchange and training, and establish a global center for women's capacity building.

With these new commitments and deeper cooperation, the Global Leaders Meeting on Women represents another milestone toward creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all women.

This summit not only highlights China’s dedication to advancing women’s rights domestically and internationally but also signals a unified effort to empower women across the globe, ensuring they have access to opportunities that enable them to thrive.