Thirty years ago, Beijing hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women, which adopted the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This milestone document proclaimed for the first time that, “Women’s rights are human rights,” formally introduced “gender mainstreaming” as a global strategy to advance gender equality, and affirmed women’s equal rights across 12 key areas, including politics, the economy, and culture.

Three decades later, the legacy of that conference continues to resonate globally. On October 13, 2025, China once again became the focal point for this enduring universal cause when it hosted the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women. The event brought together more than 800 participants from over 110 countries. In his address delivered at the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for carrying forward the spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women and promoting the new and accelerated process for women’s all-around development.

Sustained commitment to women’s development

Xi has repeatedly underscored the vital role of women in advancing human civilization and social progress over the past decade. Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in 2015, he emphasized that women are creators of both material and spiritual wealth and constitute an essential force driving social development, noting that, “Without women, there would be no continuity of the human race or the human society.” At the High-level Meeting on the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 2020, he reaffirmed that women are creators of human civilization and contributors to progress in all fields.

At the Opening Ceremony of this year’s Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, Xi once again highlighted that women play an important role in creating, promoting, and carrying forward human civilization and called on the international community to shoulder a shared responsibility in advancing the cause of women.

China’s advocacy for women’s rights has always been paired with concrete policy measures. Upholding gender equality as a fundamental national policy, the country has built a comprehensive legal framework anchored in the Constitution and centered on the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests, encompassing more than 100 related laws and regulations.

On the ground, women’s federations across China have been instrumental in turning policy into tangible progress. Programs such as the Spring Bud Project’s Dream of the Future initiative provide educational opportunities for underprivileged girls, helping to break intergenerational cycles of poverty and open new paths for empowerment.

These sustained efforts have produced measurable outcomes. According to the white paper China’s Achievements in Women’s Well-Rounded Development in the New Era, released by the State Council Information Office in September 2025, the average life expectancy of Chinese women reached 80.9 years in 2020. In 2024, women accounted for 50.76 percent of students in higher education institutions, 14.15 percentage points higher than in 1995. Moreover, the Fourth Survey on the Social Status of Women in China revealed that 90 percent of married women take part in making major family decisions, a rise of about 15 percentage points compared with 2010.

Chinese women have also assumed increasingly significant roles in the country’s social and economic development. In his speech, Xi emphasized that, “Today, women in China truly hold up half the sky in economic and social development,” highlighting their growing contributions across various sectors. “Women now account for over 40 percent of the national workforce, represent more than half of internet start-up founders, and comprise over 60 percent of all medalists in the past four Summer Olympic Games,” said Xi.

Back in October 2023, while addressing the new leadership of the All-China Women’s Federation, Xi indicated that the advancement of women’s cause not only facilitates individual development of women but also promotes family and social harmony, as well as the development of the country and the Chinese nation.

From Tu Youyou, who illuminated the world with the discovery of artemisinin and saved millions of lives, to Liu Yang, who soared into space as China’s first female astronaut, and vlogger Li Ziqi, who captured global hearts by blending tradition and creativity into a poetic vision of Chinese life, they illustrate the achievements and creativity of Chinese women, embodying both national pride and global inspiration.

A cause for humanity

China’s dedication to women’s empowerment extends far beyond its borders. On the one hand, the spirit of the Fourth World Conference on Women offered directions for the advancement of the women’s cause internationally. “Over the past 30 years, guided by the spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women, the cause of women has been thriving around the world, adding brilliant splendor to the progress of human civilization,” said Xi.

Gertrude Mongella, secretary-general of the Fourth World Conference on Women, believed Beijing was a turning point. She said that thirty years ago, the Beijing World Conference on Women laid out an actionable roadmap. The conference brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, and civil society. “For many women from developing countries, it was a moment when their voices were heard, their stories recorded, and their rights promised on the global stage.”

On the other hand, China has taken concrete steps to support women’s development worldwide. It has helped developing countries implement 100 “women and children health projects” and 100 “happy campus projects,” trained more than 200,000 women from over 180 countries and regions, and provided vocational and technical training for 100,000 women in developing countries.

Building on those past actions, Xi announced new measures to further this global cause, including donating another US $10 million to UN Women in the next five years, launching 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood programs with Chinese assistance that take women and girls as priority beneficiaries, and inviting 50,000 women to China for exchange and training programs.

China’s initiatives have been warmly welcomed by the international community. Cavince Adhere, a Kenyan scholar of international relations, praised the “small and beautiful” public welfare programs jointly implemented by China and developing countries. “These programs are of great importance to developing countries, including Kenya, in addressing maternal and child health challenges,” Adhere said. “Through them, I can truly sense China’s sincere commitment to promoting comprehensive, balanced, and shared progress in women’s development worldwide.”

Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton also commended the measures, noting that, “China’s important initiatives will continue to pave the way for global women’s empowerment and gender equality, helping to create a world that is more equal, dignified, and full of opportunities for every woman and girl.”

Nevertheless, women around the world continue to face significant challenges. More than 600 million women and girls remain caught in the turmoil of war and conflict, while nearly 10 percent of female population still live in conditions of extreme poverty.

Recognizing these persistent inequalities, Xi put forward four proposals: fostering enabling environments for women, promoting high-quality development of the women’s cause, strengthening governance frameworks to protect women’s rights, and advancing global cooperation.

As the world reflects on three decades of progress in women’s cause since the Beijing Declaration, the message resounds with renewed clarity: women’s empowerment is not the work of one nation, but a shared responsibility of all humanity. In this enduring cause, China continues to stand as both participant and partner, steadfast in its belief that a world where women flourish is a world where peace, creativity, and progress truly prevail.