Gender equality is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that the UN has vowed to accomplish by 2030. In China, it has long been a much valued concept, as evidenced by Chairman Mao Zedong’s famous statement, “Women hold up half the sky.” 

The role of women has recently come into the spotlight again with the convening of the 13th National Women’s Congress on October 23-26. The congress, held every five years, is the highest leading body of women’s federations together with the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) Executive Committee, which is elected by it. 

During a talk with the newly elected ACWF leadership following the congress, President Xi Jinping said promoting gender equality and the all-round development of women and children, and protecting their legitimate rights and interests are important components of Chinese modernization. 

Women account for more than 40 percent of China’s total workforce, and 45.8 percent of science and technology workers. They now make up 26.5 percent of the deputies to the National People’s Congress, the top legislature, and 22.4 percent of the members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the national political advisory body, both currently at a record high. 

The average life expectancy of Chinese women now exceeds 80 years, four years higher than the world average for women. The gender gap in compulsory education— first-ninth grades—has been eliminated, and there are now more women than men engaged in tertiary and postgraduate education. 

However, women’s development is still an ongoing process. The UN has cautioned slow progress means the world is not currently on track to achieve its gender equality goal. In China, too, challenges remain. But its commitment to dismantling systemic barriers to the empowerment of women is unwavering. 

The National Program for Women’s Development (2021-30) says the proportion of female delegates to any Communist Party of China congress should not be lower than the proportion of female Party members in the area served by it. The program also pledges to increase female representation in people’s congresses and CPPCC committees at local and national levels. 

In a nutshell, China will continue to advance the cause of women, with the aim of providing equal opportunities on all fronts, including education, career development and political participation.