April 2025
China has over 7 million registered organ donors
More than 7.05 million people in China have registered as voluntary organ donors, according to data released during an awareness-raising event for organ donation held on April 1.
To date, 58,000 posthumous organ donation surgeries, more than 63,000 body donations and over 110,000 corneal donations have been carried out.
These donations have saved the lives of more than 170,000 people experiencing organ failure, and restored sight to over 100,000 individuals.
To honor the donors, over 280 memorial sites have been established around China. During the Qingming Festival each year, commemorative events will be held across the country to promote awareness of and encourage greater public participation in this life-saving initiative.
From: Xinhua
Xi stresses key role of afforestation
President Xi Jinping stressed on April 3 the crucial role of afforestation in enhancing ecological conservation, and called for greater public participation in the country’s greening efforts in order to build a Beautiful China and make the nation even greener.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while attending a voluntary tree planting activity in Beijing.
From: China Daily
Initiative to help workers improve
More than 3 million industrial workers in China will receive financial support for continuing education by 2030 under a nationwide initiative aimed at improving workforce skills, according to a guideline released on April 3.
The document, jointly issued by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, lays out plans to help industrial workers pursue further education and enhance their qualifications.
From: China Daily
China taps big data to close graduate job gap
China will build a workforce demand database to help bridge the gap between college talent pool and the needs of employers.
A comprehensive, well-functioning and reliable job services network will be established within the next three to five years to support college graduates in the job market, according to new guidelines released on April 8.
From: Xinhua
Over 9,000 children to benefit from Red Cross heart screening program in Xinjiang
The Chinese Red Cross Foundation (CRCF) is set to complete its 2025 “Angels Tour,” a large-scale congenital heart disease screening campaign in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Northwest China, by May, with more than 9,000 children expected to be examined, the organization said on April 9.
According to Yang Zhuozi, director of the CRCF’s medical assistance department, the Angels Tour has occurred annually in Xinjiang since 2017, with support from the central authority’s special lottery public welfare fund and charitable donations from the public.
To date, the program has screened more than 21,000 children across the region and provided free corrective surgeries for over 2,300 children diagnosed with operable heart defects.
From: Xinhua
China targets obesity reduction, rural health, TCM services by 2030
China plans to curb the upward trend of obesity and overweight prevalence, narrow the gap in health levels between urban and rural residents and provide full-life-cycle traditional Chinese medicine services across the entire population by 2030, according to a document released by health authorities on April 14.
The State Council — China’s Cabinet — released a guideline in 2019 to implement the Healthy China initiative, proposing 15 campaigns to promote overall health of its people.
On April 14, the national patriotic health campaign committee released a notice, announcing that three more campaigns focusing on weight management, health improvements in rural areas and the provision of TCM services respectively will be added to the initiative, bringing the total number of campaigns to 18.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China’s per capita disposable income up 5.5 pct in Q1
China’s per capita disposable income increased by 5.5 percent year on year in nominal terms in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, official data showed on April 16.
The country’s per capita disposable income stood at 12,179 yuan (about 1,688 U.S. dollars) in the first three months, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said.
The income growth of rural residents outpaced that of urban residents. Specifically, per capita disposable income in rural areas increased by 6.2 percent while urban per capita disposable income rose by 4.9 percent.
From: Xinhua
China advocates for strengthened workplace maternity rights
China’s top court and the top regulator of human resources have reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding female employees during pregnancy, requiring employers to robustly uphold women’s legitimate rights and interests.
On April 16, the Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly disclosed five landmark labor-related cases, aiming to further regulate employer conduct and facilitate employees’ lawful and rational rights protection.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese farmers see income rise as rural industries boost jobs
With rural industries creating more job opportunities, the income of farmers in China continued to rise in the first three months of this year, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on April 18.
The per capita disposable income of Chinese rural residents in the first quarter reached 7,003 yuan ($959.4), an increase of 6.5 percent after adjusting for inflation, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China boosts vaccination accessibility at grassroots
Every township and subdistrict across China now has at least one vaccination unit, bringing immunization services closer to people’s doorsteps, according to the 2025 National Vaccines and Health Conference held on April 19 in Wuhan, capital city of central China’s Hubei Province.
Over 10 million people have already applied for and are using digital vaccination certificates, which provide lifelong coverage for individuals, according to the conference.
China has established a comprehensive four-tier immunization program management system at the national, provincial, municipal, and county levels, as well as a service network extending to the county, township, and village levels, Shen Hongbing, deputy head of the National Health Commission and head of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, said at the conference. This ensures timely and convenient access to vaccination for the public, he added.
From: Xinhua
2025·Asian Forum on Human Rights held in Chongqing
On April 19th, the 2025·Asian Forum on Human Rights was held in Chongqing. This forum focuses on the theme of “Science & Technology and Human Rights,” bringing together nearly 60 experts and scholars from Asian countries such as China, Pakistan, Mongolia, Japan, and Uzbekistan to jointly explore the collaborative governance of technological development and human rights protection, and promote cooperation and innovation in the field of human rights in Asia.
Experts attending the forum said that technology serves as a driving force for the advancement of human rights, rather than being utilized as a tool to constrain or impede the development of other countries. Asian countries need to jointly confront the challenge of geopolitics and camp confrontation, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard the bright future of all Asian countries.
Experts also agreed that Asian countries should make joint efforts to promote the protection of human rights and benefit people all over the world through applying new science and technology.
From: en.humanrights.cn
SCO delegates marvel at modernization momentum of China's Xinjiang
“It feels so familiar,” said Mohammadmahdi Tinaitehrani, deputy secretary for International Affairs of the Islamic Party of Iran, as he wandered through alleys in the ancient city of Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
“The architecture, food, language and dance here bear a lot of similarities to my hometown,” he added. “To preserve the unique features of ethnic architecture so authentically is an achievement in itself.”
Tinaitehrani is a member of a visiting delegation of nearly 200 political party representatives who participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization political parties forum on April 23 and 24 in Xinjiang’s capital city of Urumqi. They toured Xinjiang after the forum.
From the rich cultural heritage of traditional villages and awe-inspiring natural landscapes to state-of-the-art factories and universities, the delegates explored a full spectrum of China’s high-quality development and governance approach in this region — a vivid snapshot of the nation's modernization journey.
From: Xinhua
Govt announces new financial support for youth employment
China’s employment and entrepreneurship of youths, especially the fresh graduates, continues to attract attention and support from the government.
Three government departments — the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Finance — jointly released a notice with 17 measures on April 25, aiming to boost the employment of fresh college graduates and youths this year through policy and financial incentives to employers and skills training programs and job services to the students.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China announces new steps to enhance pediatric care
China plans to establish a 24-hour emergency green channel for critically ill children aged three and under among an array of measures to improve pediatric services, according to a document newly released by the National Health Commission.
The commission aims to boost access to pediatric, mental health and psychiatry services from this year to 2027. The initiative was announced late last year and an action plan detailing a number of measures was published by the commission on April 25.
The goal is to ensure that common pediatric illnesses can be treated at the city or county and major diseases can be treated within the region. Pediatric care will become more continuous and convenient, with overall patient satisfaction rising significantly, the action plan showed.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese premier chairs meeting on river and lake protection, child welfare
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on April 27 presided over a State Council executive meeting, which made arrangements for river and lake protection and studied measures to further protect the welfare of children in difficulties.
Highlighting the importance of welfare protection of children in difficulties, the meeting called for efforts to prioritize children's development and maximize benefits for children, and continuously improve the service systems for their living, medical, education, and mental health needs.
From: Xinhua
China strengthens people-centered legislation in 2024
China continued to adopt a people-centered approach to legislation in 2024 and further advanced its human rights protection system, according to the Annual Report on the Rule of Law in China published by the Social Sciences Academic Press in April.
Legislative activity saw a notable increase in 2024, including the formulation, revision and repeal of administrative regulations, as well as the issuance of judicial interpretations. The report said the trend highlighted a more systematic, coordinated and responsive legislative process that laid a solid legal foundation across various sectors.
As of Dec 31, China had a total of 306 laws in force.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
May 2025
China launches mandatory audits to bolster personal information protection
China on May 1 enforced new rules that require those handling the personal information of more than 10 million people to conduct regular compliance audits, as part of a broader effort to tighten data privacy and security.
Under the regulations issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), such entities must complete audits at least once every two years to examine how they collect, store and use personal information.
From: Xinhua
China rolls out measures to optimize public employment services system
China on May 6 rolled out 20 measures to optimize its public employment services system, aiming to improve the availability, equality and professional quality of such services.
A set of guidelines issued by five government authorities, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, call for the provision of local or easily accessible public employment services for urban and rural workers and employers.
The guidelines underscore the importance of releasing comprehensive employment information and providing precise career introduction and guidance services, while improving the management of both employment and unemployment.
From: Xinhua
China stresses efforts to curb occurrence of serious accidents
The Work Safety Commission under China's State Council on May 7 urged greater efforts to prevent the occurrence of serious accidents in the country.
In a notice, the commission called on governments at all levels and central enterprises to take strong actions to ensure that safety prevention responsibilities and measures are implemented at the grassroots level and among frontline personnel.
From: Xinhua
Elderly patients to get improved clinical care
China plans to build more clinics specializing in geriatrics at major hospitals and strengthen their capabilities as part of broader efforts to address the needs of a rapidly aging society, according to a recent guideline released by the National Health Commission.
The updated guideline on the establishment and management of clinics for elderly patients, issued on May 8, replaces an earlier version from 2019.
It mandates that hospitals in the upper two tiers of the country’s three-tier hospital system establish such clinics for elder patients, which should include outpatient consultation rooms, wards and comprehensive evaluation rooms.
From: China Daily
China boosts employment, social welfare for people with disabilities
Over the course of 2024, more than 9.14 million people with disabilities were employed across China, up by 512,000 from the previous year, according to an official report released on May 8.
Compared to the general population, the basic medical insurance contract and family doctor contract rates among China's disabled population are higher on average, said the report, which was issued by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation.
It showed that over 8.66 million people with disabilities received basic rehabilitation services last year, and nearly half a million children with disabilities benefited from rehabilitation assistance.
From: Xinhua
More opportunities open up for disabled people
China has seen an increase in disabled people landing jobs and covered by basic rehabilitation services, according to the China Disabled Persons’ Federation.
The federation released a report on May 9, saying that about 9.14 million disabled people with registration cards landed jobs across the nation in 2024. The number was about 9.06 million in 2023.
Also, more disabled people are secured with sound healthcare insurance programs and rehabilitation services thanks to the increasing number of high-quality rehabilitation institutes and skilled talent.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China to enhance welfare net for children living in difficulty
China will further improve basic living condition, healthcare, education, and personal security of children living in difficulty due to financial problem, disabilities, abandonment, or improper family custody to improve the nation’s welfare net.
According to a newly released guideline by the State Council, China's Cabinet, children from low-income families and with severe diseases or severe disabilities will enjoy minimum living allowance. The assistance to children living in difficulty will be further extended from materials to psychological care. The guideline was made public on May 9.
Under the guideline, local authorities are required to increase rehabilitation services to disabled children by improving management of designated rehabilitation institutes and services quality.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
NPC Standing Committee conducts enforcement inspections of food safety law
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, on May 9 launched a new round of enforcement inspection of the Food Safety Law. This effort aims to strengthen food safety supervision and further enhance overall food safety efforts.
The Food Safety Law was promulgated in 2009 and underwent a comprehensive revision in 2015. Prior enforcement inspections were conducted by the NPC Standing Committee in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
Cai Dafeng, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, emphasized the importance of firmly upholding the baseline of food safety, enhancing the effectiveness of food safety supervision, further promoting the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Food Safety Law to provide a strong legal guarantee to safeguard the health and safety of the people.
From: Xinhua
China doubles down on urban upgrades to boost high-quality development
China is intensifying efforts to advance its urban renewal initiative as it strives to build livable, resilient and smart cities, and to bolster high-quality development.
In its latest push, the country on May 15 unveiled a set of guidelines, pledging increased policy and financial support for urban renewal projects, which can range from gas pipe updates and lift installations to the renovation of old factories into commercial zones.
The guidelines, issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, are designed to achieve key progress in the country's urban renewal campaign by 2030. They also aim to improve safety conditions, enhance service efficiency, elevate living environments, develop business models, and preserve cultural heritage.
From: Xinhua
Xi highlights care, attention for disabled
President Xi Jinping has called for increasing care and attention for people with disabilities, who are an important driving force for Chinese modernization, and urged better social security and service mechanisms for people with disabilities in order to ensure their rights and interests.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on May 16, congratulating the 200 newly honored role models with disabilities, as well as 200 outstanding units and 60 exceptional individuals supporting disability services.
The national role models with disabilities and exemplary units and individuals were honored at a ceremony in Beijing on May 16, to commemorate the upcoming 35th national day of assisting persons with disabilities, which falls on May 18 this year.
From: China Daily
China sees surveyed urban unemployment rate fall for a second month
China has seen the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas continuously fall in the past two months, with the rate dropping to 5.1 percent in April, a decline by 0.1 percentage point from March, according to the latest figures unveiled by the National Bureau of Statistics on May 19.
The NBS said the urban surveyed unemployment rate averaged about 5.2 percent in first four months, pulling even with that of the same period in the previous year. The number was 5.4 percent back in February while dropping to 5.2 percent in March.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Forum seeks to address global issue of poverty
President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter on May 20 to the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development, pledging to enhance policy communication, share poverty reduction experience, deepen practical cooperation, and join hands to build a beautiful world free from poverty and with common prosperity.
The forum, which opened on May 20 in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, was themed “Sustained Poverty Reduction and Cooperative Development: Advancing Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development among SCO Countries.”
In his message, Xi noted that poverty eradication, which is a global issue, is a common goal of all countries in the world.
From: China Daily
China’s renovation of old residential communities benefits 120 million people by end-2024
China renovated 280,000 old residential communities from 2019 to 2024, benefiting more than 120 million people, Vice-Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Qin Haixiang said May 20.
The nationwide program has benefited 48 million households, Qin said at a State Council Information Office press conference on a set of guidelines regarding the country's urban renewal efforts.
The renovation program has upgraded 360,000 km of aging pipelines, added 3.87 million parking spaces, and constructed 78,000 community service facilities for elderly care and childcare, according to official data.
From: Xinhua
Action plan outlines full protection, construction of beautiful rivers, lakes by 2035
China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment unveiled an action plan for the protection and construction of beautiful rivers and lakes on May 21, charting a path for improving the country’s water ecology and environment.
“The document marks another comprehensive initiative to protect China’s water ecosystems following the action plan for prevention and control of water pollutions in 2015, and is therefore considered a milestone,” said Liu Jing, deputy director of the ministry’s department of water ecology and environment.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China improves public services to bolster employment
China on May 26 introduced a guideline aimed at providing more “accessible, equitable and professional” public services to bolster employment.
The guideline, issued by five state organs including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, outlines 20 measures to advance fairness, inclusivity and the use of digital technologies.
Specifically, each provincial-level region should improve service standardization by developing a unified public service catalog, the guideline says, adding that services across different regions should be further coordinated.
From: Xinhua
Chinese vice premier stresses workplace safety
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing on May 29 stressed the need to identify potential safety hazards in workplace, reinforce accountability for workplace safety, and take concrete measures to ensure both development and security.
It is necessary to learn from recent accidents and always stay vigilant about workplace safety, said Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, when addressing a ceremony marking the launch of a monthlong campaign to improve workplace safety.
From: Xinhua
China’s legal aid institutions handle 180,000 cases for minors in 2024
In 2024, legal aid institutions across China handled a total of 180,000 cases in support of minors, delivering nearly 140,000 related legal consultations, according to the Ministry of Justice on May 29.
In response to the emerging services needs of key groups, such as disadvantaged children and children whose parents live and work away from home, judicial administrative authorities at all levels have lowered the eligibility threshold for legal aid, expanded its coverage, and enhanced protections for these vulnerable groups, the ministry said.
From: Xinhua
Chinese vice premier calls for consolidation of poverty alleviation work
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong on May 29 called for unremitting work to consolidate and expand China’s poverty alleviation achievements, and to guarantee a smooth transition to assisting rural areas on a regular basis.
Continuous efforts must be made to prevent a large-scale relapse into poverty or the occurrence of poverty, Liu, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said at a related conference in Beijing.
From: Xinhua
