February 2025

China takes lead in wetland restoration

China has added more than 1 million hectares of wetlands since 2012 — equivalent to restoring an area the size of London every two years — bringing its total wetland area to over 56 million hectares, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced on Feb. 2, the 29th World Wetlands Day.

This achievement is part of China’s broader efforts to restore and protect its wetland ecosystems, which have seen significant improvements in their ecological conditions, with over 2,200 wetland nature reserves established nationwide.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

China’s prosecutors boost public engagement and transparency

Last year, some 326,000 people visited prosecuting authorities to participate in procuratorial activities, receive law education and learn about the work of prosecutors, according to an official from China’s top procuratorate.

Li Xuehui, head of the General Office of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, said on Feb. 6 that inviting residents to prosecuting departments helps promote public supervision, transparency and the implementation of the whole-process people’s democracy.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

Nine Shanghai districts offer hospital escorts for elderly

Nine districts in Shanghai will each train at least 100 professionals by July to assist elderly patients in navigating hospitals as they master basic health and nursing knowledge, the municipal government announced on Feb. 8.

The pilot program is the latest effort by the megacity, which has a rapidly aging population, to support its senior residents — particularly those who live alone or with elderly spouses — as they face increasing difficulties accessing medical services in an increasingly digitalized system.

From: China Daily

Campaign to enhance food and drug safety launched by prosecutors

A campaign to strengthen food and drug safety has been launched by prosecutors across China, with a focus on 10 key sectors, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the country’s top procuratorate, announced on Feb. 8.

The campaign, which will end in October, will closely monitor food and drug safety issues that have received most complaints by the public, and plans to encourage prosecutors to resolve the problems through public interest litigation, according to the SPP.

It urged prosecutors nationwide to attach greater importance to issues in the sectors of food additives, drinking water, edible agricultural products, food sold online, and catering safety in specific venues.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

China launches hotlines, awareness campaigns to bolster mental health services

A total of 18 provincial-level regions in China, including Beijing, Shanghai and Zhejiang, have launched the 12356 mental health assistance hotline, aiming to provide the public with more accessible, high-quality mental health services, a Chinese health official said on Feb. 13.

Other provinces are actively progressing with similar initiatives to ensure comprehensive mental health services coverage nationwide, Hu Qiangqiang, a spokesman for the National Health Commission (NHC), said at a press conference.

From: Xinhua

China intensifies employment support to stabilize post-festival labor market

China has intensified efforts to stabilize the labor market and ensure smooth business operations following the Spring Festival holiday by organizing both online and offline job fairs, as well as offering chartered buses, trains and flights to help migrant workers return to their jobs.

From mid-January to Feb. 11, a total of 22,000 recruitment events have been held nationwide, offering more than 15 million job opportunities, according to data released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Feb. 13.

Approximately 370,000 migrant workers have returned to their jobs, thanks to the 15,000 chartered buses, trains and flights provided, according to the data.

From: Xinhua

National Health Commission to fully implement eight initiatives this year

The National Health Commission has pledged to fully implement a list of eight healthcare initiatives this year, including expanding pediatric services and boosting psychological support for the people.

In a notice released on Feb. 13, the commission outlined specific measures in eight areas so as to boost a sense of satisfaction and well-being of the public.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

Egyptian, Chinese experts highlight Xinjiang development

“The great development witnessed by Xinjiang can serve as a guide for developing countries, especially Egypt, given the similarities in geography and economic structure between the two regions,” said Ali El-Hefny, vice-chairman of the Cairo-based Egypt-China Friendship Association and former Egyptian ambassador to China.

Egyptian and Chinese experts convened in Xinjiang on Feb. 18 to discuss the economic and social development in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

From: Xinhua

Xizang invested $362m in education projects last year

The Xizang autonomous region invested 2.63 billion yuan ($362 million) in various education projects in 2024, according to the regional education work conference, which was held in the capital city Lhasa on Feb. 21.

Last year witnessed a significant infusion of big funds in implementing 124 education projects, with a special focus on bolstering educational infrastructure in border regions, said the regional education department.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

China’s new push for rural reform, revitalization

China unveiled a comprehensive policy blueprint for rural development on Feb. 23, charting a detailed roadmap to build up the country’s agricultural strength and emphasizing grain security, agricultural innovation and deepened reforms.

The “No. 1 central document” for 2025, the first policy statement released by China’s central authorities this year, called for enhanced efforts in the work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers in 2025 and beyond, with a target of advancing all-around rural revitalization and further consolidating the country’s agricultural foundation.

From: Xinhua

China reaffirms commitment to international cooperation in human rights

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a video address at the high-level meeting of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Feb. 24, emphasizing China’s willingness to work with all countries to uphold the correct view of human rights and push for the reform and improvement of global human rights governance.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said it is essential to remember the original mission of human rights governance, which is people-centered.

He stressed that China firmly rejects actions that interfere in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of human rights and disregard national sovereignty, security and the safety of people’s lives.

From: Xinhua

China steps up protection of elderly, disabled in public interest litigation

China’s procuratorial authorities have worked to strengthen the protection of the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in public interest litigation, the country’s top procuratorate said on Feb. 24.

The Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) told a press conference that in the first 11 months of 2024, procuratorial agencies nationwide had handled 3,318 cases concerning the protection of the elderly, people with disabilities, and female, migrant and new types of workers.

Prosecutors have targeted some prominent social problems and key areas that had infringed upon people’s interests, such as employment discrimination against women, unlicensed elderly care institutions, and problems regarding employment security funds for the disabled, the SPP stated.

From: Xinhua

China aims to basically eliminate severe air pollution by 2025

China aims to basically eliminate severe air pollution by 2025, the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), Li Tianwei, an official with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said on Feb. 24.

To reach this goal, China will ramp up efforts in pollution control and emission reduction, improve its air quality forecasting and early warning systems, and enhance coordinated management of PM2.5 and ozone pollution, Li told a press conference.

From: Xinhua

Per capita disposable income of China’s rural residents reaches $3,185 in 2024

China has made significant progress in rural development despite severe natural disasters and other challenges in 2024, said Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, at a press conference on further deepening rural reforms and advancing comprehensive rural revitalization on Feb. 24.

According to Han, the per capita disposable income of China’s rural residents in 2024 reached 23,119 yuan (about $3,185), marking a 6.3% real growth year-on-year.

The income gap between urban and rural residents further narrowed to a ratio of 2.34:1.

From: Ecns.cn

Joint efforts for gender equality stressed

Beijing said it will take the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of two landmark documents on women’s causes to work with the international community to inject new driving forces in this area.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the remarks on Feb. 26 after a panel discussion themed on commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was held at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The two documents were adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in September 1995.

From: China Daily

Proposals play key role in creating policies

Affairs related to retirement, pension and employment have drawn attention from national legislators and political advisers, whose suggestions and proposals have been well reviewed by central departments and are being shaped into practical policies for social and economic advancement.

Central departments under the State Council, China’s Cabinet, have reviewed and handled 8,783 proposals by deputies to the National People’s Congress and 4,813 suggestions by members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference last year, with progresses of improving people’s livelihood and advancing economic development being reached, according to the State Council Information Office.

Tang Chengpei, vice-minister of civil affairs, said at a news conference in Beijing on Feb. 28 that pension issues of the elderly and social relief have attracted great attention from national legislators and political advisers, with the ministry handling 313 proposals and 174 suggestions respectively last year to offer assistance to the needy people.

From: China Daily

March 2025

China, UNICEF to help strengthen education, health for Cambodia’s most vulnerable children

Cambodia, China and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on March 5 launched a partnership to improve quality inclusive education, health, nutrition and hygiene for Cambodia’s most vulnerable children, said a joint press release.

The launch event was attended by Cambodian Minister of Health Chheang Ra, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin and UNICEF Representative Will Parks, the press release said.

From: Xinhua

Judicial efforts ensure public well-being

Chinese judicial authorities handled numerous public interest cases last year, aiming to address people’s concerns and enhance access to justice, according to the annual work reports reviewed by national lawmakers.

By taking a people-centered approach, prosecutors and judges prioritized frequently disputed issues such as food safety, cyberbullying and livestreaming sales, while also strengthening protections for vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly and children, the reports showed.

Though these cases may seem less severe than violent crimes, their proper handling is key to protecting people’s fundamental interests, safety and well-being, officials said.

The reports from the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate were submitted on March 8 to the ongoing third session of the 14th National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, for review.

From: China Daily

Over 90% of China’s village clinics covered by basic medical insurance

More than 90 percent of village clinics in China have their services covered by basic medical insurance, a senior health official said on March 9.

Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, announced the figure at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual session of China’s national legislature.

There are more than 600,000 grassroots healthcare institutions in towns, communities and villages nationwide, with over 5 million health workers in service, Lei said.

From: Xinhua

Stronger social security support for people in flexible and new forms of employment pledged

China has so far established the world’s largest social insurance network, and the government will continue to optimize the social security policies for flexible workers, migrant workers and people in new forms of employment to make sure the people share the benefits of national development.

By the end of 2024, the national basic pension insurance has covered 1.07 billion people, and 250 million people and 300 million people joined the national unemployment and work-related injury insurance programs, respectively, with these social insurance programs securing them a reliable basic living, said Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security, at a news conference in Beijing on March 9.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

China’s employment sees stable growth

China’s employment is under stable growth, and the government will continue to better the job market to secure people a fairer, well-organized and friendlier working environment this year, said a senior official.

Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security, said at a news conference in Beijing on March 9 that the nation does bear great pressure of stabilizing and expanding the employment because of the increasing population of new college graduates — 12.22 million this year, a large number of rural labor force, and a complicated global landscape, while the economic uptrend and prosperous innovation have consolidated the foundation for employment growth.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

Chongqing court issues guidelines to improve elderly services

The Banan District People’s Court of Chongqing on March 10 has issued the municipality’s first guideline to enhance litigation services for the elderly by improving procedures and support to better meet their needs.

The court said the guideline presents a range of measures that prioritize the needs of the elderly and enhance the litigation service environment.

These include setting up elderly-friendly court facilities, dedicated service zones and specialized trial courts. Customized services will be provided based on health and cognitive capabilities. A diverse network for elderly protection aims to support individuals facing unique challenges.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

China plants nearly 4.45 mln hectares of forest in 2024

China stepped up its greening efforts last year with 4.446 million hectares of forest planted, a report from the National Greening Commission said on March 12.

This figure is higher than the 3.998 million hectares of afforestation achieved in 2023, the commission stated. China on March 12 celebrated its 47th National Tree Planting Day.

From: Xinhua

NGO meeting calls for advancing women’s rights

Chinese and international nongovernmental organizations met in Geneva on March 13 to discuss how to advance women’s rights for an equitable and sustainable future.

Christoph Stuckelberger, president of the Geneva Agape Foundation, said there is enormous progress in women’s rights around the world in the last three decades since the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, citing women’s leadership position in the United Nations, in private sector, universities and research.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

Top court acts to protect consumer rights

China’s top court has urged courts nationwide to crack down on companies that lure customers into prepaid purchases without delivering services, aiming to strengthen consumer protections and promote business integrity.

The Supreme People’s Court issued a 27-article judicial interpretation on handling civil cases involving prepaid consumption on the eve of World Consumer Rights Day, which takes place on March 15 each year. The move responds to public concerns and seeks to ensure the healthy development of advance payment models, said Chen Yifang, chief judge of the court’s First Civil Division, at a news conference on March 14.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

China makes progress in advancing sustainable development, human rights protection: experts

China has made significant progress in pursuing sustainable development and human rights protection in recent years, experts said at a side event during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council on March 17.

The event, titled “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Human Rights Protection,” was co-hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and the China Foundation for Human Rights Development.

From: Xinhua

China to allocate 66.74b yuan in employment subsidies in 2025

China will allocate about 66.74 billion yuan ($9.22 billion) in employment subsidies as part of efforts to support local governments in assisting businesses to create more jobs, an official of the Ministry of Finance said on March 17.

The remarks were made at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council, the cabinet, during which officials introduced government efforts to boost consumption in 2025.

Speaking at the press conference, Fu Jinling, director-general of the Department of Economic Construction of the Ministry of Finance, said that the new subsidies will be used to help local governments implement employment and entrepreneurship support policies, coordinate relevant funds and resources, promote full employment and improve job quality.

From: Global Times

China unveils guideline to improve nutrition quality

China has unveiled targets to enhance the nutritional quality of its food consumption by 2030, aiming for a more balanced and healthy diet nationwide.

The Food and Nutrition Development Guideline (2025-2030), jointly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, was released on March 17 and set key objectives for improving dietary habits and food supply quality.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

Beijing’s air quality soars with 29.5% drop in PM2.5 level

Beijing’s average PM2.5 concentration dropped to a record low of 26.8 micrograms per cubic meter in the first two months of the year, marking a 29.5 percent decline from last year, the environmental authorities announced on March 18.

The city enjoyed 54 days of “excellent” air quality, accounting for 91.5 percent of the total days during the period, according to the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau.

This progress is credited to Beijing’s persistent air pollution control efforts. In January, the city launched an action plan to improve air quality, which included promoting cleaner energy and stricter industrial emission standards.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

China to fast-track training for medical, elderly care professionals

China plans to accelerate the training of professionals in integrated medical and elderly care to address rising demands amid an aging population.

The Ministry of Education and the National Health Commission made public a circular on March 19, urging vocational universities to establish bachelor’s programs in medical and elderly care services.

From: Xinhua

Facial recognition concerns addressed

A regulation aiming to standardize the use of facial recognition technology and protect personal data was unveiled on March 21, as the increasingly wider application of the security-related tech sparks growing concerns over potential privacy violations in China.

The regulation, jointly issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Public Security, will come into effect on June 1. It clarifies that the use of the technology should abide by the law, and must not harm national security, public welfare and the legal interests of individuals.

Facial recognition technology needs to be used when it is necessary, and should be used in a way that imposes the least intrusion on personal rights and interests, it states, adding that data collected through the technology must be strictly protected.

From: China Daily

China to improve quality, expand capacity of “silver economy” for elderly

China will redouble its efforts to improve the quality and expand the capacity of its “silver economy,” namely economic activities related to the country’s large elderly population, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Chengpei said on March 24.

These efforts aim to create a positive cycle combining economic development and the improvement of people’s livelihoods, Tang said in his remarks at the China Development Forum 2025, which was held from March 23 to March 24.

The 10-year period from 2025 to 2035 is an important time window for China to respond proactively to the challenge of population aging, Tang said.

From: Xinhua

China’s TB cure rate remains above 90 pct

China has maintained a national tuberculosis cure rate exceeding 90 percent since 2012, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration announced on March 27.

Since 2012, China has seen a continuous decline in TB, a major infectious disease and global public health challenge, with both the incidence and mortality rates dropping by approximately 30 percent, the administration told a press conference.

From: Xinhua

White paper highlights human rights progress in Xizang

All-round and historic progress has been made in human rights cause in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, according to a white paper released on March 28.

The document, titled “Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era,” was released by the State Council Information Office at a press conference held in Lhasa, capital city of the region.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have implemented effective measures to develop the economy, improve living standards and people’s wellbeing, promote ethnic unity and progress, and protect the basic rights of all the people in the region, it said.

From: Xinhua

Foreign envoys laud progress of Xinjiang

On March 31, the Xinjiang regional government hosted a reception in Beijing to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The event was attended by 70 foreign ambassadors and diplomats from 43 countries and international organizations.

Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of the Xinjiang regional government, outlined the region’s people-centered development strategy, noting that more than 77 percent of fiscal spending was allocated to public well-being. This included strengthening education and creating around 483,200 jobs in 2024.

He also highlighted Xinjiang’s progress in international trade, with the region’s trade volume surpassing 400 billion yuan ($55 billion) in 2024, covering 213 countries and regions. More than 90 percent of that trade was with BRI countries.

Foreign ambassadors expressed optimism about enhanced cooperation opportunities in the development of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region at an event.

From: Xinhua