December 2025
China, Indonesia co-host symposium on human rights protection
China and Indonesia co-hosted a symposium in Jakarta on Dec. 2, highlighting the contribution of development to human rights.
The event was jointly hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and Indonesia-based Gentala Institute.
Chinese and Indonesian experts and scholars held in-depth discussions on topics ranging from the role of development in promoting human rights to the protection of economic, social and cultural rights. They also explored the safeguarding of minorities’ rights, the practice of common prosperity, the equal right to development across countries, and related cases studies in both countries.
From: CGTN
China-South Africa human rights seminar held in Pretoria
The 2025 China-South Africa Seminar on Human Rights was held in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, on Dec. 4.
Under the theme “Multilateralism and the Realization of the Right to Development,” the event gathered around 50 representatives from both countries to discuss topics, including four major global initiatives proposed by China and global human rights governance, and China-South Africa practical cooperation and the advancement of the right to development.
From: Xinhua
Int’l symposium on human rights protection in digital era held in Malaysia
The International Symposium on Human Rights Protection in the Digital Era was held on Dec. 5, bringing together scholars, social organizations and media from both China and Malaysia.
Discussions covered the opportunities and challenges posed by digital transformation to human rights, emerging issues arising from growing digitalization, the core principles for safeguarding rights online, the evolution of digital rights as a new category of human rights, governance and institutional frameworks for their protection, and the role of Asian values and civilizational dialogue in shaping the future of digital human rights.
From: Xinhua
Guangzhou University hosts forum on human rights protection in Chinese modernization
Guangzhou University has hosted a forum on human rights protection in the Chinese path to modernization on Dec. 6.
Experts and scholars held in-depth discussions on topics such as “Building China’s Independent Knowledge System of Human Rights,” “Criminal Law Issues and Human Rights Challenges in the Digital Age,” and “Protecting the Rights and Interests of Minors.” Professors say China has developed its own approach to protecting human rights as the country continues to modernize.
From: CGTN
Chinese delegation on human rights visits Indonesia, Malaysia
A Chinese delegation composed of experts in the field of human rights and related areas has undertaken a successful mission in engaging fellow experts in Indonesia and Malaysia from Dec. 1 to Dec. 6.
The delegation, organized by China Society for Human Rights Studies, focused on explaining China’s practice of respecting and protecting human rights and the key principles of the contemporary Chinese perspective of human rights.
From: Xinhua
China releases annual report on human rights development
The Annual Report on China’s Human Rights (2025), compiled by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, has recently been published.
The book includes 28 reports, such as a general report, special reports, and case study reports. The general report emphasizes China’s active efforts to deepen reforms across all sectors and to promote high-quality human rights development.
It highlights that China has achieved more balanced protection of economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights, and the rights and interests of various specific groups are more fully safeguarded. China’s human rights efforts are progressing comprehensively and in a coordinated manner across all sectors.
From: CGTN
China-Africa human rights cooperation seminar held in east China
An academic seminar on human rights cooperation between China and Africa took place on Dec. 10 in the city of Jinhua, east China’s Zhejiang Province, marking World Human Rights Day.
Held at Zhejiang Normal University, the event convened nearly 100 experts and scholars from diverse fields to explore topics ranging from the four major global initiatives proposed by China and global human rights governance to China-Africa practical cooperation.
During the seminar, the China-Africa Human Rights Research Think-Tank Cooperation Network was officially launched, while the China-Africa Human Rights Research Center was inaugurated at the university’s Institute of African Studies.
From: CGTN
Human rights forum in China marks UN Charter’s 80th anniversary
A forum marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Charter was held in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on Dec. 10, bringing together nearly 90 human rights experts and scholars from home and abroad.
Lu Guangjin, vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, said at the event that China’s human rights endeavors have made continuous progress over the past decade, with their global influence increasing steadily.
China has been working to improve people’s livelihoods, and to protect and promote human rights through development, enabling its people to share more of the fruits of development, Lu added. “This represents China’s successful experience.”
The 2025 Li Buyun Law Prize ceremony was held alongside the forum, with Zhang Yonghe, executive dean of the Human Rights Institute at the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, receiving this year’s award.
From: Xinhua
China’s poverty alleviation achievements continuously consolidated, expanded in 2025
On Dec. 10, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said that the year 2025 saw the overall stable implementation of assistance policies across the country, firmly securing the baseline to prevent a large-scale return to poverty.
In 2025, China identified and assisted over 7 million individuals through its monitoring system, effectively eliminating their risk of returning to poverty, the ministry said.
It also said that education, health care, housing and drinking water security have been enhanced steadily for those who have emerged from poverty.
From: Xinhua
Beijing reports childcare, elderly support progress during 14th Five-Year Plan period
At a press conference on Dec. 11, Beijing officials highlighted the municipality’s efforts to build a service network for the elderly, infants, and children under the age of 3 during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).
The city has established 152 localized service centers during that time that provide meal delivery, daily care, and hospital assistance for the elderly. These services benefit up to 2.07 million senior citizens, including 293,000 individuals over the age of 80, as reported by Yang Zhiwei, vice-director of the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau.
Additionally, up to 33,000 infants and children under the age of 3 can now receive care in kindergartens, according to Wei Xubin, vice-director of the Beijing Education Commission. Among them, 26,000 children are eligible to join the public kindergartens with preferential discounts.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China and Germany hold human rights development forum in Beijing
Co-hosted by the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and Germany’s Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the “2025 China-Germany Human Rights Development Forum” was held in Beijing on Dec. 11. Around 30 experts and scholars from both countries joined online and in person to discuss the theme: Synergy Between International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid.
During the forum, Chinese and German experts agreed that strengthening development cooperation and providing humanitarian assistance require true multilateralism. They emphasized addressing both symptoms and root causes, empowering communities for sustainable growth, reducing crises through development and improving global human rights governance.
From: CGTN
China creates over 12 million new urban jobs in the first 11 months
China created 12.1 million new urban jobs in the first 11 months of this year, official data showed on Dec. 16, reflecting a generally stable employment situation.
This stability aligns with a series of pro-employment and economic stabilization policies introduced this year. Central authorities have prioritized job stability as the foremost task to ensure stability across the four key areas — employment, enterprises, the market, and expectations.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Ministry to launch month-long program aimed at promoting youth employment
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security is set to launch a month-long program starting mid-December aimed at promoting youth employment.
The program targets college students graduating in 2026, recent graduates who have not yet secured employment, and youths participating in the State-level “Sanzhi Yifu” program, which involves two to three years of service in grassroots positions in education, agriculture, medical care, and rural revitalization.
High-quality and efficient job services will be provided to these youths throughout the month, according to a ministry release on Dec. 18.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
New employment workers given greater legal protection
China has achieved fruitful results in protecting the rights of flexible workers and people serving in new forms of employment such as food deliverymen and women and ride-hailing drivers, which is of great importance to the realization of high-quality and fuller employment, and also social stability.
According to a report submitted for review to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Dec. 22, China currently has more than 200 million flexible workers. Government at all levels has optimized services and reached fruitful results in protecting these workers’ rights by publishing guidelines, improving working standards and releasing explorative policies on social insurance.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China moves to legislate childcare services for first time, paving way for next generation’s first steps
On Dec. 22, Chinese lawmakers began reviewing a draft law on childcare services -- the first law of its kind proposed -- designed to regulate services, enhance legal protections for children under the age of 3, and strengthen policies supporting childbirth and parenting.
The draft law builds on policy guidance with legal protections, aiming to address development bottlenecks and systematically regulate relevant services to foster a childbirth-friendly society and promote high-quality population development.
It was submitted to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the national legislature, for its first reading.
From: Xinhua
China initiates renovation projects at 25,800 urban residential communities from Jan-Nov
China launched renovation projects at 25,800 old urban residential communities in the first 11 months of 2025, continuing efforts to make its cities more livable, official data showed on Dec. 25.
With 22 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps having met their renovation targets this year, the figure has surpassed the national annual goal of renovating 25,000 old urban residential communities, according to data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
From: Xinhua
China rolls out plan to boost health of children, youth through 2030
China unveiled a plan to promote the health of children and adolescents from 2026 to 2030 on Dec. 30, targeting key issues such as obesity, myopia, mental and behavioral disorders, spinal deformities, and dental health.
The initiative aims to improve young people’s physical and mental well-being by emphasizing prevention and the coordinated management of multiple health issues.
The plan called for efforts to strengthen cooperation between healthcare services and schools, integrate medical care and physical education, foster family-school collaboration, and encourage broader societal participation in promoting youth health.
From: Xinhua
January 2026
Action plan targets youth health issues
China has launched a five-year action plan to improve the overall health of children and adolescents, targeting five key issues that include obesity, myopia, mental health disorders, spinal curvature abnormalities and dental health.
The plan, jointly issued by the National Health Commission and 12 other government departments on Jan. 6, sets a goal to effectively curb obesity among children and teenagers by 2030. It also aims to raise the proportion of primary and secondary school students who meet the national physical fitness criteria to at least 60 percent.
From: China Daily
China reports steady growth of health literacy
The health literacy rate among Chinese people rose by 1.82 percentage points year on year to reach 33.69 percent in 2025, announced the National Health Commission on Jan. 7.
The health literacy rate among urban residents reached 36.68 percent, while that among rural residents was 30.58 percent, reflecting respective increases of 1.94 and 1.47 percentage points compared to 2024, according to the ministry.
The health literacy gap between the less-developed western region and the eastern and central regions narrowed in 2025.
From: Xinhua
China to expand higher education in populous, central-western regions
China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) will adjust the layout and quantity of higher education institutions, channeling more resources to populous provinces and central-western regions, according to a decision announced at a recent ministry meeting.
The initiative aims to address the imbalance in higher education access, the ministry said at the meeting held in Beijing on Jan. 8, which laid out the country’s education development roadmap for the year.
The MOE has taken a step in narrowing the gap. Six of the nine new universities approved by it on Jan. 4 will be located in populous provinces across the country’s central and western regions.
From: Xinhua
China makes it easier for families to tap employee healthcare insurance funds
China will accelerate reforms to allow family members to use funds from the personal accounts of basic employee healthcare insurance across provincial regions, authorities said on Jan. 9.
The move, announced by the National Healthcare Security Administration and the Ministry of Finance, aims to further reduce people’s medical expenses and improve the efficiency of healthcare fund management.
Under the new policy, holders of employee insurance may use the balance in their personal accounts to pay for medical expenses of their parents, spouses, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren, even if they reside in different provinces.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China to beef up personal data protection in internet applications
China’s cyberspace regulator released draft rules regulating the collection and use of personal information by internet applications on Jan. 10, seeking public feedback.
The draft, formulated by the Cyberspace Administration of China, aims to protect the rights and interests of personal information and ensure the proper use of personal data.
According to the draft, the collection and use of personal information should be strictly limited to what is necessary for providing products or services, and must not exceed the required scope.
From: Xinhua
Smart tech to unify healthcare and insurance data
China will launch a pilot program this year to establish cloud platforms aggregating personal healthcare and medical insurance data, aiming to provide more intelligent services for insured individuals and accelerate the development of smart technologies in the sector, the National Healthcare Security Administration said on Jan. 11.
The platforms will be built on the unified national medical insurance information system established in 2012 and led by provincial or municipal authorities.
They will integrate core data from insurance-designated hospitals, including diagnosis and treatment records, settlement information, and the use of medicines and medical consumables.
From: China Daily
China to promote tech-enabled elderly care to enhance seniors’ well-being
China’s central authorities have called for using advanced technologies, including brain-computer interfaces, exoskeleton robots and muscle suits, to assist elderly citizens with declining physical functions, according to guidelines made public on Jan. 13.
Released by eight central departments including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the document aims to drive the reform of elderly care services, improve the well-being of senior citizens, and fuel the growth of silver economy.
The drive to bring technology into elderly care is already making a real difference. In east China’s Zhejiang Province, Chen, in his sixties, who suffered left-sided hemiplegia following cerebral hemorrhage, regained the ability to pick up a cup with his left hand after undergoing training with non-invasive brain-computer interface technology in the hospital.
From: Xinhua
China expands enterprise annuity access to more workers
China released guidelines on Jan. 15 to make its enterprise annuity system more “inclusive, flexible and convenient,” thereby broadening access to more workers.
The guidelines, jointly issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Finance, allow all types of enterprises, social organizations, foundations, private non-enterprise institutions and other eligible employers to establish enterprise annuities with their employees.
From: Xinhua
China introduces national subsidy for elderly care services to foster senior-friendly society
China has rolled out a nationwide subsidy program to support elderly people with disabilities who purchase care services, authorities announced on Jan. 22, as part of efforts to ease family burdens and build a more senior-friendly society.
The program, starting on Jan. 1, was launched by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. It provides seniors who have difficulty taking care of themselves with monthly electronic vouchers over 12 months, partly offsetting costs for home-based, community-based and institutional elderly care services.
The vouchers, worth up to 800 yuan (about 114 U.S. dollars) per person per month, can be used to cover a wide range of services such as meal assistance, bathing assistance, housekeeping assistance, mobility support, emergency aid, medical assistance, rehabilitation nursing, and daytime care.
From: Xinhua
China launches nationwide employment assistance program
Nine central departments in China have initiated a three-month employment assistance program aimed at increasing incomes for laid-off workers, flexible workers and rural laborers.
Throughout the program, local authorities will organize job fairs in residential communities, rural areas, industrial zones, supermarkets, and railway stations. They will also encourage job seekers and workers to earn skills certificates.
Additionally, local authorities will enhance the promotion of job policies and services, targeting those in need, including people with disabilities, urban workers facing hardships, and graduates struggling to find employment. These groups will receive tailored assistance, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Human Resources on Jan. 22.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese vice-premier urges efforts to consolidate poverty alleviation achievements
Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong has called for efforts to improve policy measures and carry out assistance work in a solid manner to continuously consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation.
Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an investigation tour of Southwest China’s Guizhou province from Jan. 21 to Jan. 23.
Liu underscored the importance of guarding against large-scale lapses or relapses into poverty. He also called for developing industries based on local resource endowments and market demand, strengthening skills training and employment support, and making every effort to boost farmers’ incomes.
From: Xinhua
China to unveil policy to address AI’s impact on jobs: ministry
China will roll out policy measures aimed at addressing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs as rapid technological adoption has reshaped the country’s labor market.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Jan. 27 at a press briefing that an official document will be released to respond to the AI’s impact and promote employment.
Alongside the AI-focused policy, authorities will also introduce targeted employment support for key industries and expand assistance for priority groups, including university graduates and other young jobseekers, according to the ministry.
From: Xinhua
Panda Health Train delivers free care to remote Sichuan prefecture
A panda-themed train recently brought free medical services to the remote Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province during a three-day charitable mission that concluded on Jan. 29.
Departing from Chengdu, the provincial capital, the Panda Health Train carried a medical team of over 70 volunteers led by Luo Fengming, president of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The medical workers provided health services to locals and railway workers at multiple railway stations.
A group of clinical experts and senior nurses also visited the First People’s Hospital of Liangshan to share advanced medical concepts and techniques through hands-on guidance.
Since its launch in 2021, the Panda Health Train has provided free medical services to more than 18,000 people in the Liangshan region.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese courts boost pretrial mediation, resolve 4.32 million disputes in 2025
Chinese courts saw a consistent rise in pretrial mediation efforts in 2025, achieving an average quarterly growth rate of 28 percent and successfully resolving over 4.32 million disputes, an official from China’s top court announced on Jan. 30.
Qian Xiaochen, chief judge of the Supreme People’s Court’s Case-Filing Division, told a news conference that courts nationwide have always prioritized the preferences of litigants and focus heavily on pre-litigation mediation, aiming to not only safeguard their rights but also aid in resolving disputes more efficiently.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
