中文
Street banners for the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women are pictured in Beijing, capital of China, October 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
By Wang Yan
Three decades ago, the Fourth World Conference on Women convened in Beijing and put forward the goal of "seeking equality, development and peace through action," which was enshrined in the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Gender equality has since been prioritized on China's development agenda as a core element of modernization.
Today, on the 30th anniversary of the 1995 World Conference on Women, as the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women is being held in Beijing, China has fulfilled its commitments and achieved tremendous progress in women's development. Actions taken by China over the past three decades have produced far-reaching and profound changes in the well-being and prospects of women in China and globally.
Women in China now "hold up half the sky," but it is fair to say this is due to the enlightenment of education. Education has proved to be a pivotal force for empowering women, reducing inequality and strengthening the economy, as highlighted in the white paper "China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era," released by China's State Council on September 19.
Among the various dimensions of progress highlighted, education emerges as the fundamental catalyst that has transformed the landscape of opportunities for Chinese women, creating a shift from traditional constraints to modern possibilities.
Educational transformation: From access to excellence
Around the world, 119 million girls are out of school, including 34 million of primary school age, 28 million of lower secondary school age and 58 million of upper secondary school age. Only 49 percent of countries have achieved gender parity in primary education. At the secondary level the gap widens: 42 percent of countries have achieved gender parity in lower secondary education and 24 percent in upper secondary education.
China stands out. Over three decades it has blazed a trail toward gender parity in education.
According to the white paper, in 2024 female students constituted more than half of total higher education enrollment, representing a 14 percentage point increase since 1995. More impressively, women now account for 50 percent of graduate students, marking a 22 percentage point increase over the same period. These headline numbers rest on a primary-school net enrolment rate for girls of 99.9 percent and a senior-high gender ratio of 49 percent female – effectively parity across every rung of the academic ladder. In 2020 the average years of schooling for women aged 15 and above nationwide reached 9.59 years.
Targeted interventions for rural and vulnerable populations
China has implemented targeted programs to address the specific challenges faced by rural girls and women from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Spring Bud Project, launched by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund in 1989, exemplifies this approach. By the end of 2024, the initiative had mobilized 3.44 billion yuan ($481 million), providing financial assistance and academic support to 4.36 million girls, enabling them to complete compulsory education and pursue vocational or higher education. These achievements brought the project a UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education in 2023.
The disparities affecting rural girls have also been addressed through substantial investments in infrastructure and teacher training. The implementation of four consecutive preschool education action plans has ensured that girls account for 47.3 percent of kindergarten enrollment nationwide. The Plan to Popularize Senior High School Education (2017–2020) and the Action Plan to Develop County-level Senior High Schools during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) have specifically targeted rural areas, resulting in a steady rise in the proportion of girls receiving secondary education.
A news conference on the achievements of the Spring Bud Project is held in Beijing, capital of China, October 10, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
Vocational education and online learning expand horizons
Educational empowerment has extended beyond traditional academic pathways. China has developed a comprehensive vocational education system that particularly benefits women. In 2024, women made up 47.9 percent of students in higher vocational programs and 45.2 percent of students in secondary vocational programs at the undergraduate and junior college levels, supported by tuition exemptions, scholarships, grants and student loans for eligible students. This ensures that financial constraints do not limit educational opportunities.
Online learning platforms and digital resources have allowed girls in marginalized communities to access high-quality education. In particular, the establishment of Smart Education of China, an online platform for public digital education services, represents a revolutionary step in creating flexible educational pathways that meet women's diverse learning needs.
Science and technology education prepares for the future
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, China has placed special emphasis on encouraging women's participation in science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The "Exploring the Future" program, launched by the China Women's Development Foundation in 2018, has introduced more than 8,200 girls aged 12 to 16 to laboratories at top universities and research institutes. These young women have explored fields ranging from mechanical engineering to biophysics, developing projects that bridge classroom learning with real-world applications.
The results of these initiatives are reflected in the growing presence of women in scientific research. In 2024 women accounted for almost 2.85 million research and development personnel – more than double the number in 2012. This progress demonstrates that China's educational policies are not only addressing current inequalities but are also preparing women for leadership in future-oriented industries.
International spill-over: Shared solutions
China's efforts to advance women's development extend beyond its borders, positioning the country as a global leader in promoting gender equality through education.
With its international cooperation initiatives, China has supported 100 "Maternal and Child Health" projects and 100 "Happy Campus" initiatives worldwide. Numerous vocational training programs have trained over 200,000 women from more than 180 countries and regions.
The establishment in Beijing of an exchange and training base aimed at global women's development serves as a hub for capacity-building initiatives, offering tailored training programs for women from developing countries.
These efforts demonstrate China's commitment to ensuring women's education is not just a national priority but a global imperative.
Measurable impact, replicable logic
Thanks to policies promoting digital competency for all, and especially digital education and training for women, the digital gender dividend continues to increase. In 2024 a total of 14,147 women obtained professional skill-level certificates as artificial intelligence trainers, accounting for 42.3 percent. Women accounted for more than half of entrepreneurs in the internet sector. Among workers in new business formats such as digital trade, e-commerce and live streaming, women make up about one-third.
The white paper's numbers are not abstract: they translate into delayed marriage – the average age rose from 22.7 to 28.2 – plummeting maternal mortality (down 76 percent since 1995) and a 43 percent female labor-force participation rate that fuels China's transition to a high-skill economy.
Each additional year of schooling given to a rural girl is estimated to raise her lifetime earnings by 9 percent – a private dividend that becomes social when she spends 70 percent of it on her children's health and education, generating an intergenerational virtuous circle.
A model for global development
The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women calls for a new and accelerated process of all-round development for women. China's experience shows that education is key to achieving this goal. Clearly, through strong political commitment, systematic policy design and implementation, targeted interventions for vulnerable populations and international cooperation, education can serve as a catalyst for gender equality and holistic development.
The Chinese model offers a replicable framework for other nations striving to achieve gender equality and sustainable development. When women are educated, entire societies benefit, creating a virtuous cycle of progress that extends across generations.
Looking to the future, as Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out, China will continue to create a favorable environment for women's growth and development, nurture strong drivers of high-quality development of the women's cause, build governance architecture that safeguards women's rights and interests and open a new chapter of global cooperation for the advancement of women.
China stands ready to share its experiences and resources and contribute to a global movement toward educational equity. Hopefully China's dedicated efforts in women's development will yield even greater dividends not just for Chinese women but for global development. In doing so, China will make a greater contribution to human development that transcends borders and cultures, offering hope and inspiration to women and girls everywhere.
Wang Yan, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate research fellow of the Country and Area Studies Academy under the Beijing Foreign Studies University.
