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China Takes Charge in Women's Development Initiatives

On October 16, 2025, China hosted the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, a pivotal event that underscored the nation’s ongoing commitment to promoting women's rights and their comprehensive development. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the seminal Beijing Conference, where the historic Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were adopted. China has made significant strides in empowering women since then, making it the focal point for global collaboration in this area.

During the opening speech, President Xi Jinping highlighted the crucial role of women in driving social progress. He proposed four key initiatives for the international community to take concrete steps toward gender equality and the protection of women's rights. Xi urged nations to create a peaceful and stable environment for women's development, enhance mechanisms to combat violence against women, stimulate new growth engines to empower women, and improve global governance systems to increase women’s participation in national and societal governance.

Furthermore, he called for intensified global cooperation to promote women's development and emphasized the need to support the United Nations' central role and establish platforms to facilitate global collaboration among women.

Notable Progress in Women's Development

The meeting took place amidst China's remarkable progress in women's development. Since 2013, targeted poverty alleviation efforts have lifted millions of women out of poverty, enabling 690 million to experience a moderately prosperous standard of living. Today, women account for more than half of all university students and over 40% of the workforce. They represent 45.8% of China’s scientific community, more than half of internet entrepreneurs, and 42.3% of judges nationwide—showing the widening opportunities for women in leadership positions and various professions.

Additionally, women's health and well-being have improved significantly. The average life expectancy for women is now over 80 years, with maternal mortality rates dropping by 77% from 1995 to 2024. The World Health Organization has recognized China as one of the top-performing countries in maternal and child health.

"On the new path of China's modernization, every woman plays a vital role," stated Xi at the meeting.

Global Commitment to Women’s Empowerment

Beyond domestic achievements, China has actively advocated for women's advancement globally, particularly in developing countries. Since 2015, China has donated $20 million to UN Women, co-established the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education, and initiated projects aimed at enhancing digital education, healthcare, and vocational training for girls in Africa. Through the UNESCO Prize alone, 18 organizations in 18 countries have been supported, enabling thousands of girls to pursue their dreams.

China has also contributed to improving the living and educational conditions for women in the Global South through over 100 maternal and child health programs, 100 "Happy School" initiatives, and numerous projects in housing, infrastructure, and education.

Utilizing the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDF), China has implemented $40 million worth of projects aimed specifically at women across more than 20 countries. In the area of education and capacity building, it has assisted over 200,000 women from 180 countries and founded the Global Exchange and Cooperation Center for Digital Empowerment of Women, thereby providing women worldwide with greater access to opportunities.

At the session on Monday, Xi announced further commitments to support women's empowerment over the next five years. China will allocate $10 million to UN Women and $100 million to the GDF to support programs benefiting women and girls, promote 1,000 small-scale projects aimed at improving women's living conditions, invite 50,000 women for exchange and training purposes to China, and establish a global center for promoting women's development.

With these new commitments and enhanced cooperation, the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women is set to mark another milestone towards creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all women. This initiative not only reflects China's dedication to women's development but also signals a rallying call for global unity in the pursuit of gender equality and empowerment.