March 8 is International Women's Day which was first celebrated in 1911. China has commemorated the "March 8th" Day since 1922. In December 1949, the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) designated March 8th of each year as Women's Day.

This year we echo UN Women to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” Looking back at the progress of women’s cause in China, there are also three keywords: Equality, Development and Sharing.

Gender Equality Safeguarded

Adhere to the basic national policy of gender equality, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, said the Report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Boosting the comprehensive development of women and achieving gender equality have been perceived as important components of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. China has always attached great importance to such development and equality.

Since the founding of the PRC, what has been witnessed is a constantly improved legal system for the protection of women's rights and interests. Built on the Constitution and with the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women at the core, this system now covers over 100 separate laws and regulations.

Chinese law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests (2022 Revision) reads it is a basic state policy to realise equality between men and women. Women shall enjoy equal rights with men in all aspects of political, economic, cultural, social and family life.

Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China has constantly cemented the legal assurance for gender equality. The protection of women's rights is secured through scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, fair administration of justice and law-abiding public. In the course of building a socialist country, government and society ruled by laws, assurance of women's rights is continuously strengthened.

Women are indispensable builders of the country. China has also promulgated laws and regulations such as the labour law, the employment promotion law, the labour contract law and the law on contracting rural land to fully protect women's economic rights and interests, especially the right to equal employment, ensuring equal pay to men and women for equal work and eliminating gender discrimination in employment.

Women’s Development Ensured 

“Party committees and governments at all levels must fully recognize the great significance of developing women's cause and doing a good job in women's work. ” President Xi Jinping stressed.

As the ruling party of China, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has highly valued the training and selection of women cadres and the admission of women Party members.

As China pushes forward the modernization process of the state management system and governance capacity, women's capabilities to participate in the management of state and social affairs have been comprehensively improved, and women are playing a greater role in democratic and political construction.

There are higher ratios of women deputies in People's Congresses (the organ of State power) and women members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (the political advisory body). The election law includes explicit provisions on the proportion of women candidates to national and local people's congresses and requires a gradual increase of the proportion.

Chinese Women's education level has risen significantly. By actively promoting fairness in education, women's education status has been gradually improved, with their education level greatly lifted. In 2023, the proportion of female college students in China increased to 49.9% from 19.8% in 1949.

China has paid high attention to poverty reduction and eradication among women, giving priority to reducing the poverty-stricken population, and ensuring resource supply for women in poverty while assisting and supporting them in poverty-relief projects. By 2020, all 98.99 million rural poor in China had been lifted out of poverty, with women accounting for half of them.

Health of women and children is the cornerstone of the health of all people. China has established a three-tier network of maternal and child health services, covering urban and rural areas. China vigorously implements maternal and child health projects, providing full life-cycle health services for women and constantly improving the fairness and equalization of maternal and child health services. By 2022, the basic medical insurance had covered 650 million women, increased by 400 million in 2013.

China sticks to ensuring and improving women's livelihood in the course of pursing development. By 2023, the number of women participating in basic pension insurance nationwide totaled 520 million, an increase of 180 million from 2016. With social security institutionalized, Chinese women have an ever-stronger sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

Cooperation and Sharing Promoted 

China attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation in the field of women. We strongly support women and women's organizations represented by the All-China Women's Federation to actively make friends, build friendships, learn from each other, and promote common development with women around the world.

China actively supports women's organizations to participate in the Women's International Democratic Federation. In 1995, China hosted the Fourth UN World Conference on Women, and proposed a basic national policy of the equality between men and women, making an important contribution to formulating the Beijing Declaration and Program of Action. Adopted at the Conference by 189 countries, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide.

In 2015, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Women in Beijing, China and the UN Women jointly organized the Global Summit of Women, which was attended by more than 140 heads of state and government, as well as representatives of UN agencies and international organizations. Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over the summit and profoundly expounded the Chinese proposition of promoting the equality between men and women and women's all-round development.

China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation over women-related issues with all countries and contribute wisdom and strength to promoting the building of a community of a shared future for mankind and a better world.

“The vast majority of women in our country have actively participated in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and played an important role as ‘half the sky’ with their passion and efforts that are no less than men.” President Xi Jinping commented.

“The women in our rural villages are the real driving force in the economic and social development of our communities.” Hon. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa said at the Signing and Launching of the Strategic Partnership Between the International Finance Corporation and the National Bank of Samoa .

Like any cause, progress of China-Samoa relations cannot be achieved without engagement and dedication of women. Most of the teachers in the Confucius Institute of National University of Samoa are women. Seven out of 8 specialists of China Medical Team currently working in the national hospital are women. More than half of the Samoan students studying in China are women.

Year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Samoa. When looking forward to the future cooperation, we expect women from both countries to continuously play their unrivalled role ahead.

Year 2025 also sees the 30th anniversary of the Fourth UN World Conference on Women. We call the international community to further the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and highlight the protection of women and girls’ rights and interests in ending violence, discrimination and poverty and bridging the digital gender divide.

As President Xi said, There is still a long way to go to build a world where women are free from discrimination and to create an inclusive and developing society, and greater efforts are needed. Let us continue to work together to accelerate the realization of gender equality and promote the development of women's cause around the world.

Happy International Women’s Day to all women and girls!

Fei Mingxing is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Independent State of Samoa