China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a news conference on the China National Program for Women's Development (2021-2030) and the China National Program for Child Development (2021-2030) on September 27.

China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) on September 27 held a news conference, during which several officials of the Chinese Government released information about the China National Program for Women's Development (2021-2030) and the China National Program for Child Development (2021-2030) (the two programs). Huang Xiaowei, Deputy Director of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, Secretary of the Leading Party (Communist Party of China) Members Group, and Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), delivered a speech. The following is an excerpt of her speech:

Dedicated to both seeking happiness for the Chinese people and to achieving rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the CPC (Communist Party of China) during the past century has been pursuing the liberation and development of women and children. Since the 2011-2020 versions of the two programs were issued and implemented, and especially since the 18th CPC National Congress was held in Beijing, in November 2012, the CPC Central Committee has paid great attention to improving the work concerning women and children. For example, the reports to the 18th CPC National Congress and to the 19th CPC National Congress (held in October 2017) both stated, "We must adhere to the fundamental national policy of gender equality, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of women and minors."

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, in recent years has made a series of important remarks on women and children's development, as well as on family construction. Every year, on International Women's Day (on March 8), Xi sends best wishes and encouragement to women, and does the same for children every International Children's Day (on June 1). During the past decade, Xi has put forward China's proposals on promoting women and children's development during many important international conferences. All have shown the general secretary's care for women and children. Xi's remarks and proposals have provided fundamental guidance for improving women- and children-related work in the new era.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, China has realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society, in all respects. During the historical cause, China has basically achieved every goal set in the 2011-2020 versions of the two programs, and has made the following historic achievements in the promotion of women and children's development:

China has made progress in achieving gender equality, and in promoting women's all-round development. The country has given full play to women's unique roles in promoting national economic and social development. As the Chinese saying goes, "Women hold up half the sky." Women have played an equal part with men in combating both poverty and COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus disease). Women have also fought strongly with their male peers in various fields, including rural vitalization and technological innovation; and 

China has given priority to promoting children's healthy growth and sound development. Children's health has continued to improve. The mortality rates of infants and children under the age of 5 are 5.4 per 1,000 and 7.5 per 1,000, respectively, down from 13.1 per 1,000 and 16.4 per 1,000 in 2010, respectively. Also, children have gained better access to education. For example, the completion rate of the nine-year compulsory education grew from 91.1 percent, in 2010, to 95.2 percent.

To promote implementation of the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the National Working Committee on Children and Women (NWCCW), under the State Council, has compiled the two programs. The cadres have conducted extensive research (at the grassroots level), to learn about women and children's needs. The cadres have also solicited opinions and suggestions, from various departments, experts (in various fields), people working on the promotion of women and children's development, and Chinese netizens.

The China National Program for Women's Development (2021-2030) outlines 75 main objectives and 93 strategies and measures to promote various aspects of women's lives, including health, education, economy, participation in decision-making and management, social security, family building, environment and law. The China Program for Child Development (2021-2030) outlines 70 main objectives and 89 strategies and measures to promote various aspects of children's lives, including health, safety, education, welfare, family, environment, and legal protection. Compared with the two programs implemented between 2011-2020, the new versions (of the programs) have the following "bright spots," which have generated much concern:

First, upholding the CPC's overall leadership over the work concerning women and children. Adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the new versions of the two programs emphasize sticking to the correct political direction, thoroughly implementing the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee regarding women and children's development, ensuring the CPC's leadership in the implementation of the programs, and in the promotion of women and children's development;

Second, following a people-centered philosophy of development. For example, the programs stress greater efforts should be made to strengthen the public-service system and to establish relevant institutions and mechanisms, to protect the rights and interests of disadvantaged women and children. Also, greater efforts should be made to narrow the disparities in the development of women and children between urban and rural areas, among different regions, and among diverse groups;

Third, strengthening theoretical and political guidance, as well as ideological and moral education for women and children. The China National Program for Women's Development (2021-2030) guides women to follow the leadership of the CPC. The China National Program for Child Development (2021-2030) focuses on the fundamental task of fostering children's all-round moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetical grounding with a hard-working spirit;

Fourth, guiding and supporting women and children to be masters of the country and to play greater roles. The China National Program for Women's Development (2021-2030) stresses the importance of encouraging women to both contribute to high-quality development, and to promote the modernization of the national governance system and capacity. The China National Program for Child Development (2021-2030) underlines the importance of encouraging and supporting children to participate in family, social and cultural lives, and of creating a social environment conducive to children's involvement in the lives; and

Fifth, implementing the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, and adding new contents to the programs, to satisfy residents' needs in their social and family lives. For example, to help women take advantage of their unique roles in both social and family lives, and to give full play to the important roles of family, family education and family traditions in promoting children's healthy growth and in strengthening social governance at the community level, the sections of "Women and Family Building" and "Children and Families" are added to the China National Program for Women's Development (2021-2030) and the China National Program for Child Development (2021-2030), respectively. To promote implementation of the key decisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on optimizing childbirth policies, the programs contain policies and measures on supporting child bearing, upbringing and education. To ensure children's safety and healthy growth, and to prevent and address child injuries, the China National Program for Child Development (2021-2030) includes the section of "Children and Safety."

(Women of China English Monthly November 2021 issue)