Translated with AI
In the lead-up to International Women's Day on March 8, we reflect on how women today act as creators, drivers, and defenders of human civilization. It's worth noting that advancing the women's agenda is a shared responsibility of the international community. Gender equality has already become a universally recognized principle. The global women's agenda has dynamically evolved and has added vibrancy to the multifaceted nature of human civilization. Women play an increasingly significant role in areas such as economic and political development, cultural heritage, and more.
China's initiative points to a new path
global women's agenda
Currently, the challenges to achieving women's comprehensive development remain daunting. According to official data, over 600 million women and girls worldwide are currently living in war and conflict zones, and over 10% live in poverty.
At the Global Women's Summit, held on October 13, 2025, in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech in which he emphasized that women are an important force in the creation and development of human civilization, and that advancing the women's agenda is the shared responsibility of the entire international community.
He also put forward four proposals to give new impetus to women's empowerment and the advancement of gender equality globally. First, he proposed combining efforts to create a favorable environment for women's development. Violence against women in all its forms must be resolutely combated. Second, he proposed combining efforts to cultivate a powerful impetus for high-quality development of the women's agenda, and it is important to advance this momentum through scientific and technological innovation. Third, he proposed combining efforts to develop a governance system to protect women's rights and interests. He proposed improving institutions and the legal framework, ensuring all women have high-quality healthcare and educational resources, and guaranteeing each woman comprehensive and equal rights as much as possible. Fourth, he proposed combining efforts to open a new chapter in international cooperation for women's development.
"We must support women in assuming the responsibilities of our era and engage them in global governance for the sake of shared development. We must uphold the key role of the UN, pay greater attention to the needs of women in developing countries, create new and broad platforms for interaction between women from different countries, and continually strengthen exchanges and mutual enrichment for shared prosperity," the Chinese leader emphasized.
The Chinese President's Four Proposals provide a comprehensive solution to the global women's agenda. This approach is seen as a contribution of Chinese wisdom, which, through practical actions in areas such as creating favorable conditions, fostering driving forces, and providing guarantees, provides a powerful impetus for accelerating women's comprehensive development.
Historic Changes in the Development of Women's Status in China
As a universally recognized principle of the international community, gender equality is already included in various UN development agendas and the Organization's development goals in priority areas. In this context, China has achieved historic achievements in advancing women's issues.
As noted in the White Paper "China's Achievements in the All-Round Development of Women's Affairs in the New Era," published by the State Council of the People's Republic of China in September 2025, the country has established a legal system based on the Constitution and encompassing more than 100 laws and regulations, with the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests dominating.
The proportion of Chinese women among higher education students has reached 50.76%, and among postgraduate students, 50.01%. The maternal mortality rate has decreased by almost 80% since 1995. The average life expectancy for women has increased to 80.9 years. Women account for over 40% of the total employed population, and more than half of internet entrepreneurs are women. At the last four Summer Olympics, more than 60% of China's medal winners were women.
On this new path of development, every woman becomes a heroine of Chinese modernization! "Female power" is also becoming a vibrant aspect of the international context.
China drives global expansion
women's rights and opportunities
China actively creates opportunities and guarantees for global progress on the women's agenda based on its own national development.
At the initiative of the People's Republic of China, the International Day of Dialogue among Civilizations was established, and, jointly with UNESCO, the Prize for Achievements in the Field of Girls' and Women's Education was established, with participation by more than 610,000 girls in various countries.
China is implementing projects such as the Juncao technology, which helps women in over 100 countries gain employment. It has launched 100 Maternal and Child Health projects in developing countries to train 200,000 outstanding female professionals in over 180 countries and regions.
Over the next five years, China will provide an additional US$10 million in support to UN Women; provide US$100 million from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to implement cooperation projects with international organizations aimed at the development of women and girls; launch 1,000 small but socially significant projects to improve people's well-being; invite 50,000 women to participate in exchanges and advanced training courses in China; and establish a "Global Center for Women's Potential Development."
China contributes to global gender equality through sharing experiences in areas such as poverty alleviation and health care.
The new era offers even greater opportunities for women. China stands ready to work with the international community to accelerate the creation of conditions conducive to women's advancement and to promote support for them, helping more women achieve greater success.
Wei Ann
Correspondent for CGTN-Russian, China Media Corporation
