On the new journey of Chinese modernization, every individual plays a key role. Connecting their own future with that of the country and the nation, Chinese women have devoted themselves to the building of a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. They have attained major achievements in the new era, creating a better life through action and hard work.
1. Achievements in Promoting High-Quality Economic Development
In promoting high-quality economic development, China is committed to expanding channels for women's participation, improving their capabilities, and stimulating their creativity. Women are "holding up half the sky" and playing an increasingly prominent role.
Realizing potential in employment and entrepreneurship. Upholding employment as a priority, China has increased fiscal investment, and implemented initiatives such as the Women's Action for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Action for Promoting Women's Employment and Entrepreneurship. Special recruitment sections and events for women have been held, sponsored by the National Employment Promotion Action and Spring Breeze Action, aiming to help more women find better jobs.
Gender discrimination in employment has been placed under the scrutiny of labor protection supervision. The System of Special Labor Protection for Female Employees in the Workplace (Reference Text) and the System for Eliminating Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Reference Text) have been formulated as guidelines for employers to improve their corresponding systems for protecting female employees' lawful rights and interests.
By the end of 2024, RMB640 billion in loans had been provided to support 8.49 million women in realizing their entrepreneurial dreams. Since 2012, women have accounted for about 43 percent of the total employed population. According to the fifth national economic census in 2024, 42.6 percent of the employees in government agencies, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises were women, an increase of 3.6 percentage points compared to the fourth census.
The scale of women's accomplishments is reflected in their significant representation among national honorees: They constitute 34 percent of the National Moral Models and 30.9 percent of the Most Beautiful Souls and National Exemplary Educators. Since 2012, a total of 1,821 women have been awarded the titles of National Model Workers and Advanced Workers, 1,957 have received the National May 1st Labor Medal, 5,001 have been honored as National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetters, and 6,489 recognized as National Role Models for Women's Achievements.
Pioneering innovation in science and technology. As part of the efforts to implement the Women's Action for Scientific and Technological Innovation, China has formulated the Measures on Supporting Female Talent to Play a Greater Role in Sci-Tech Innovation, which outline 16 concrete measures, including supporting female scientists to undertake national sci-tech projects and participate in decision-making on sci-tech development, as well as improving evaluation and incentive mechanisms for them.
The National Natural Science Foundation has appropriately relaxed the age limits for female applicants in Categories A, B and C of the Young Scientists Fund, raising the maximum age thresholds by three years, two years, and five years respectively, compared to their male counterparts. Leveraging platforms such as the Zhongguancun Forum, Pujiang Innovation Forum, and World AI Conference, China has launched summits and forums for women working in science and technology, and hosted the Women Technicians Forum and a range of training programs for high-caliber female sci-tech professionals. These actions have created platforms for women in STEM fields to conduct professional exchange and learning, apply their research outcomes, and serve the public.
Today, women account for 45.8 percent of all sci-tech researchers in China. They are tackling tough problems and achieving breakthroughs in pioneering fields, overcoming daunting obstacles, and scaling new heights at the forefront of innovation, and making significant contributions to building China into a sci-tech powerhouse with greater strength and self-reliance in science and technology.
Taking the lead in rural revitalization. Through the Women's Action for Rural Revitalization, China has strengthened quality training to empower women farmers. Since 2017, the High-quality Farmer Training Program has trained over 2.24 million women farmers, and between 2022 and 2024, the project for cultivating leaders for rural industry revitalization trained 12,000 female individuals.
The achievements of women in rural revitalization have been recognized through initiatives like the Double Hundred and Double Thousand Initiative, which recognizes outstanding rural craftspeople, 100 of whom in the first batch were women, accounting for 36.6 percent of the total. In the final round of the first National Farmers' Skills Competition, female participants comprised 69.5 percent of all winners. Furthermore, by the end of 2024, 134,000 female workers responsible for extending agricultural technologies and services had obtained professional titles, representing 35.4 percent of the total.
Pursuing excellence in the digital economy. China has issued the Action Plan for Strengthening the Digital Literacy and Skills of the General Public and the Action Plan for Digital Rural Development, which include measures such as carrying out digital literacy education and skills training for women and developing women-led e-commerce brands. Chinese women have answered the call of the digital age, and are committed to developing the digital economy, with 14,147 women obtaining the vocational skills certificates for AI trainers in 2024 alone – comprising 42.3 percent of the yearly total. Women represent over half of the entrepreneurs in the internet sector and about one third of the workforce engaging in new business forms such as digital trade, e-commerce, and live streaming. As the digital economy advances, it is providing more opportunities for women.
(Source: SCIO White Paper China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era)
Editor: Cui Rui
