Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for stronger representation of women in politics and governance, emphasizing that true gender equality must be "deeply internalized" across all levels of society. Speaking at the two-day Global Leaders Meeting on Women in Beijing, organized in partnership with UN Women, Xi urged countries to expand opportunities for women to participate in national decision-making and social governance.
The summit gathered leaders from Iceland, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Dominica, and Mozambique, focusing on advancing gender equality and women’s development worldwide. Xi highlighted that peace and stability are essential foundations for women’s comprehensive growth and participation in national affairs.
China has made significant progress in women’s education, with women now representing about 50% of university students and 43% of the total workforce. Despite these gains, gender disparities persist in political leadership. The absence of women in China’s top political bodies has drawn concern from the United Nations, which in 2023 recommended that China adopt statutory quotas and gender parity measures to accelerate equality in governance.
In 2022, China’s 24-member Politburo included no women for the first time in two decades, and none were represented in the seven-member Standing Committee. Analysts and activists note that women’s presence in senior political and government positions has declined under Xi’s leadership, alongside widening gender gaps in the workforce.
Xi has consistently linked women’s empowerment to national progress. In 2023, he underscored women’s vital role in building a “new trend of family,” especially as China confronts an aging population and record-low birth rates. He stated that advancing women’s development contributes to “family harmony, social stability, and national rejuvenation,” reaffirming his call for inclusive and balanced growth that benefits all of society.