Posters: Advancing women's development to the forefront of the times

On the new journey toward Chinese modernization, every individual plays a vital role. Closely linking their own future with that of 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.

A white paper titled China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era was released on Sept. 19, 2025, by the State Council Information Office. The fourth chapter elaborates on how Chinese women have achieved remarkable progress in the new era and created better lives through action and dedication.

In promoting high-quality economic development, China is committed to expanding channels for women’s participation, improving their capabilities, and stimulating their creativity. According to the white paper, women have accounted for about 43 percent of the total employed population since 2012. Today, women account for 45.8 percent of all sci-tech researchers in China.

As China advances whole-process people’s democracy, it remains committed to increasing women’s participation in the management of state, economic, cultural and social affairs. Women enjoy equal political rights and actively participate in democratic practices, contributing their strengths with great enthusiasm.

In the 14th NPC convened in 2023, there were 790 women deputies, accounting for 26.5 percent of the total. This represents an increase of 3.1 percentage points from the 12th NPC and 1.6 percentage points from the 13th NPC, according to the white paper.

In developing a thriving socialist culture, China has given full play to women’s role in creating cultural wealth and cultivated female talent in the cultural sector. Through innovation and with creativity, women have made a significant contribution to preserving cultural heritage and promoting the best of traditional Chinese culture.

The white paper notes that among the 3,997 recognized representative bearers of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items on the national list, 25 percent are women. The research and training program for ICH bearers has provided training for 51,000 people, with women accounting for 57 percent.

Women play a significant role in the nation’s ecosystem protection and restoration. Among the 17,000 eco-environmental guardians working at the 190,700 sq km Sanjiangyuan National Park, 33.3 percent are women. The Women Tree-Planting Team in Changjiang Li Autonomous County of Hainan Province has been dedicated to planting more than six million coastal defense trees, establishing a forest spanning over 2,000 hectares in the desert after 30 years of trial and error, the paper noted.