Li Ying, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wednesday outlined her vision for China's maritime future – "bigger, smarter, greener" – at the first group interview of the annual session of China's top political advisory body.

Li, a professor at Dalian Maritime University, highlighted China's world-leading maritime fleet, its first domestically-built large cruise ship, and green port advances, including eight zero-carbon pilot ports and 70% of global new green ship orders.

The maritime scientific researcher is a shining example of the growing force of female talent in China's technology sector, where women now account for nearly half and are increasingly taking on leadership roles in driving innovation across industries.

This momentum in women's development is highlighted by wider recognition, especially ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, when Chinese President Xi Jinping extended greetings and best wishes to the country's women of all ethnic groups and walks of life.

Xi's greetings echo a long-standing commitment to women's empowerment. Women play an important role in creating, promoting and carrying forward human civilization, he has said. "On the new journey of Chinese modernization, every woman is a star."

'Women hold up half the sky' in China

In China, the women's development has always been an integral part of the country's modernization efforts, with steady progress achieved across education, health and economic participation.

Targeted poverty alleviation since 2013 has helped lift millions of women out of poverty, contributing to a moderately prosperous life for about 690 million women. Meanwhile, the maternal mortality rate fell by 76.9% from 61.9 per 100,000 in 1995 to 14.3 per 100,000 in 2024, far below the global average, according to a white paper. 

Women today account for over 45% of the country's sci-tech workforce and more than half of internet entrepreneurs, milestones that testify to the Chinese saying that "women hold up half the sky."

These accomplishments are rooted in institutional guarantees and decisive actions. Gender equality is enshrined as a basic national policy, while policies such as targeted poverty reduction, vocational training, universal education access and improved healthcare provide systematic support for women's development.

"In the new era, Chinese women, more confident and vibrant than ever before, are taking part in the whole process of state and social governance," Xi has once observed. "They are writing a splendid history of the cause of women in China."

China builds bridges for global women's progress

On the international stage, China has engaged in global governance on women's issues, established platforms for exchange and cooperation between Chinese and foreign women, and contributed to fostering an international environment conducive to women's development.

By 2025, China had trained more than 200,000 women professionals from over 180 countries and regions, delivered more than 100 training programs for women and children in the Global South and carried out women's empowerment projects in more than 20 countries, reflecting its commitment to advancing gender equality through concrete South-South cooperation.

China has also co-established the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education, and launched projects advancing digital education, healthcare and vocational skills for girls in Africa.

A significant milestone came last year, when Beijing hosted the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, which was also held in the Chinese capital in 1995.

Addressing the meeting back in October, Xi called for efforts to support the UN's central role, address women's needs in developing countries, create cooperation platforms and deepen exchanges so as to "help women across the world thrive and shine together."

The Chinese president also announced new measures, including a $10 million donation to UN Women and $100 million from China's Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund for projects benefiting women and girls over the next five years.

The country, he added, will support 1,000 "small and beautiful" livelihood programs that prioritize women and girls as beneficiaries, invite 50,000 women worldwide to China for exchange and training and establish a Global Center for Women's Capacity Building.

Nahla Haidar, chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, noted that China's practices not only advance domestic development but also provide valuable experience for the region and the world.