February 2026
China outlines 2026 priorities for rural development and modernization in No 1 central document
China released its annual No 1 Central Document for 2026 on Feb. 3, setting out priorities for agriculture and rural development as the country seeks to advance agricultural and rural modernization and promote comprehensive rural vitalization.
As the first No 1 central document under the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), it outlines measures to develop modern and large-scale agriculture, improve living conditions in rural areas, and raise farmers’ incomes, providing a solid foundation for advancing Chinese modernization.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China’s trade unions boost rights and skills for new employment forms
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions has made significant progress in protecting the rights of people in new forms of employment over the past three years, with more workers, such as delivery personnel and ride-hailing drivers, joining local trade unions and accessing rights protection services and skills training opportunities.
In 2023, the federation launched a three-year program focusing on rights protection and skills training for people in new forms of employment. About 10.74 million workers have joined trade unions nationwide in the past three years, according to a release by the federation on Feb. 5.
The federation has also collaborated with other central departments, such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, to help regulate employers and platforms’ operations regarding algorithms and labor contracts.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Courts expand support for vulnerable litigants
Chinese courts have increased judicial assistance for vulnerable groups involved in litigation in recent years, aiming to protect their legitimate rights and interests and improve people’s livelihoods, officials from China’s top court said.
Wang Zhenyu, head of the Supreme People’s Court State Compensation Division, said at a news conference on Feb. 6 that courts nationwide assisted more than 128,000 individuals in 90,400 cases between 2023 and 2025, with assistance funds totaling more than 2.56 billion yuan ($369 million).
Wang stressed the importance of judicial assistance for litigants in distress, saying it is a fundamental component of China’s socialist judicial system and can significantly ease hardships for those in need.
From: China Daily
Foreign minister sets out China’s human rights vision
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Feb. 23 called for closer international coordination to improve global human rights governance, saying that China stands ready to work with all countries to implement the Global Governance Initiative and use it as an opportunity to refine global human rights governance.
He made the remarks in a video speech at the high-level segment of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, or UNHRC, an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in the world, held in Geneva. The high-level segment of UNHRC sessions is a forum that allows senior officials to outline national human rights priorities and set the session’s political agenda.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
New air quality norms to aid health, cut emissions
China has significantly tightened its national air quality standards, affirming its unwavering commitment to sustaining air quality improvements.
While remarkably improving people’s health, the new standards are also expected to substantially contribute to the country’s endeavor to go carbon neutral, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Feb. 24.
The tighter thresholds specifically target four major air pollutants — PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, according to the Ambient Air Quality Standards GB 3095 — 2026, which was jointly released by the ministry and the State Administration for Market Regulation.
From: China Daily
Guangdong launches lifelong learning platform for residents
Guangdong province officially launched a new comprehensive digital platform on Feb. 25, aiming to provide lifelong learning opportunities to its roughly 127 million residents.
The “Guangdong Comprehensive Lifelong Learning Platform,” backed by multiple provincial agencies including the education and culture departments, is designed to offer a range of educational resources. Officials state the goal is to help the populous manufacturing hub transform its demographic weight into a highly skilled workforce.
Lifelong learning has been identified by the provincial government as a major strategic task for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Social assistance data set to get privacy protection
Applicants for social assistance are required to provide true and accurate information, which will receive enhanced protection under a draft law currently being reviewed by Chinese lawmakers.
The draft law on social assistance was submitted to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China's top legislative body, on Feb. 25 for further review. It includes new and refined provisions concerning privacy protection.
Luo Yuan, an official from the NPC’s Constitution and Law Committee, emphasized the importance of personal data protection, explaining that the draft has been refined to address concerns arising from the need to collect and use large amounts of personal data during the review and disclosure processes. “If mishandled, this data could pose risks to privacy and personal information rights,” he said.
“To address this, we’ve established intensified personal information protection as a core principle in the draft's first chapter,” he added.
From: China Daily
Law dedicated to firefighters taking shape
The draft of China’s first law dedicated to national firefighters and rescue personnel was submitted to the standing committee of the nation’s top legislature for its reading on Feb. 25.
The draft was jointly conceived by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Emergency Management.
It aims to regulate the management of national firefighting and rescue personnel, protect their lawful rights and interests, strengthen oversight and promote proper performance of duties, according to an explanatory note submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
From: China Daily
China balances GDP growth with air quality
China’s air quality reached its best levels on record during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), as the country successfully balanced economic growth with air pollution control, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
China’s GDP expanded by 30 percent, while the national average density of PM2.5 particulate matter fell by 20 percent over the past five years, Li Tianwei, head of the ministry’s Department of Atmospheric Environment, said at a news conference on Feb. 27.
During this time, the number of cities meeting national air quality standards increased from 206 to 246, he said.
From: China Daily
New guideline stresses “health first” in schools
The Ministry of Education has unveiled a new guideline aimed at transforming schools across the country into “healthy schools”, with a strong emphasis on physical activity, mental well-being, and nutritional safety.
Released on Feb. 27, the document seeks to embed the “health first” philosophy into the education system, ensuring that student wellness becomes a core component of the campus environment.
The initiative will roll out in three phases. By 2027, the establishment of pilot healthy schools is expected to be completed, setting effective models and evaluation standards. By 2030, the “health first” concept should be widely adopted, with significant improvements in health education covering every school. The ultimate goal, set for 2035, is to have universally established high-quality healthy schools.
From: China Daily
March 2026
Chinese Representative calls on all parties at the Human Rights Council to stay committed to reforming and improving global human rights governance
On March 2, Ambassador Jia Guide, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, delivered a statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council, calling for reforming and improving global human rights governance.
Ambassador Jia pointed out that, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Human Rights Council and the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development. However, as unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism resurge, multilateralism is encountering headwinds, and the international human rights cause faces grave challenges.
Ambassador Jia stressed that, following the spirit as illustrated by the human rights dimension of the Global Governance Initiative, China calls upon all parties to safeguard human rights through security to create a secure and stable environment for the realization of human rights, uphold a people-centered approach to promote all categories of human rights in a balanced manner, advance human rights through equality and firmly reject political confrontation. China is ready to work with all countries to jointly promote the healthy development of the international human rights cause and to build a community with a shared future for humanity.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Courts step up protection of women, minors
Chinese courts have issued more than 25,000 personal safety protection orders over the past five years, providing judicial support to victims of domestic violence, an official with the Supreme People’s Court said.
Chen Yifang, chief judge of the Supreme People’s Court’s First Civil Division, said on March 2 that harmonious families are essential to social stability and reiterated a policy of “zero tolerance” toward domestic violence.
Courts nationwide have upheld a “children first” principle and adopted multiple measures to support minors involved in divorce cases, aiming to safeguard their physical and mental well-being. While efficiently handling domestic violence cases, courts at all levels have also focused on other livelihood-related issues, including employment, food, medicine and consumer rights, to address public concerns and enhance people’s sense of security, fulfillment and happiness, she said.
From: China Daily
China to formulate law on childcare services: spokesman
Chinese lawmakers are set to formulate a law on childcare services this year aiming to channel more resources into people’s livelihood sectors and boost consumption, a spokesman said on March 4.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the national legislature, will also enact laws on social assistance and medical insurance, said Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th NPC, at a news conference ahead of the opening of its annual session.
During the year, the NPC Standing Committee will conduct oversight on building a unified domestic market and advancing all-round rural vitalization, Lou said.
From: Xinhua
Proposed law aims to enhance ethnic unity and safeguard rights in China
Drafting a law on promoting ethnic unity and progress is key to fostering a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation and ensuring the lawful rights and interests of people from all ethnic groups are better safeguarded, a spokesman for the annual session of China's top legislature said on March 4.
Creating the law in light of the historic position of the Communist Party of China's ethnic work in the new era is a step in line with the overarching trend of the Chinese nation — a trend from history to the future, from tradition to modernity, and of unity in diversity through state legislation, Lou Qinjian, spokesman of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress, said at a news conference in Beijing.
The draft of the law was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for the first review in September. It was subsequently made available on the NPC’s official website to solicit public suggestions and provided to all NPC deputies to collect their opinions. NPC deputies will deliberate the draft law during the legislature's annual session, which will commence on March 5 and run until March 12.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China to boost consumption, residents’ income
China will actively boost consumption and implement an income growth plan for urban and rural residents, according to a government work report submitted on March 5 to the country’s top legislature for deliberation.
The country will advance special initiatives to bolster consumption, with the roll-out of a range of practical measures to boost the earnings of low-income groups, increase property income, and refine the remuneration and social security systems in 2026, according to the report.
A total of 250 billion yuan (36.17 billion U.S. dollars) in ultra-long special treasury bonds will be earmarked for consumer goods trade-in programs, and a special fiscal-financial coordination fund of 100 billion yuan will be created to facilitate domestic demand expansion.
From: Xinhua
China’s five-year development targets focus on addressing people's concerns: official
Over one third of China’s major development targets for the 2026-2030 period will focus on resolving the pressing difficulties and problems that concern the people most, an official told a press conference on March 7.
To tangibly improve the educational and health standards of the people, the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan sets targets to increase the average years of education for the working-age population, the average life expectancy, and the number of medical staff per 1,000 people, said Zheng Bei, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
From: Xinhua
China expands social safety net for gig workers, new professions
China will offer more effective, fairer, smart, and convenient public services by optimizing rights protection and social insurance coverage to enhance people’s well-being and sense of happiness and security.
Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security, said at a news conference in Beijing on March 7 that the ministry will continue exploring effective ways to protect people in new forms of employment — such as delivery men and women workers and ride-hailing drivers — from work-related injuries, and expand social insurance coverage to better secure these workers this year.
“The ministry has taken explorative steps to set up pilot points of work-related injury protection for people in new forms of employment in recent years, with the program so far involving 25 million workers in 17 provinces,” she said, adding that the ministry will continue to expand the program nationwide.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China delivering world's largest high-quality education system: education minister
China is delivering the world’s largest high-quality education system, with around 280 million students enrolled in some 440,000 schools, Education Minister Huai Jinpeng said on March 7.
China’s gross enrollment rate for preschool education stands at 92.9 percent, significantly higher than the OECD average of 84.7 percent, while the admission rate for senior high schools reached 92 percent in 2025, Huai told a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing national legislative session.
From: Xinhua
China’s elderly care vouchers benefit 892,000 people
China’s elderly care service vouchers for seniors with moderate to severe disabilities have benefited 892,000 people, with redemptions totaling 1.72 billion yuan (249 million U.S. dollars) so far this year, Civil Affairs Minister Lu Zhiyuan said on March 7 at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the top legislature.
China is expanding community-based home care services for the elderly. Across the country, 80,000 senior dining centers now serve more than 3 million seniors daily, helping them access regular meals, Lu said.
A total of 495,000 home-based care beds have been set up, bringing professional care directly to seniors.
From: Xinhua
China’s spring job drive creates 23 million openings
China’s annual “spring breeze” employment campaign has generated 23 million job vacancies through 32,000 job fairs since the Spring Festival holiday, the employment authorities said, as the nation ramps up efforts to connect returning migrant workers with new opportunities.
The post-Chinese New Year period traditionally marks a peak in hiring as tens of millions of workers seek fresh employment. As of March 8, authorities have coordinated special buses, trains, and charter flights to transport 430,000 workers back to their posts, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China’s procuratorial authorities enhance efforts to safeguard public welfare in 2025
China’s procuratorial authorities intensified efforts in 2025 to safeguard people's livelihoods, deepening the “procuratorial protection for people’s livelihoods” initiative and strengthening judicial protections in key public welfare areas, according to the work report of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.
Ying Yong, the prosecutor general of the SPP, delivered the report on March 9 at the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China has broken disability-poverty link, Rome seminar hears
China has successfully lifted 7.1 million rural residents with disabilities out of poverty and has integrated disability inclusion into its national development strategy, said Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation during an event held on March 11 in Rome, Italy.
Cheng spoke at a seminar titled “Sharing Development Rights: China’s Practices in Poverty Reduction for Disabled Persons'” that was jointly hosted by the federation, the China International Communications Group and the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
He said that addressing poverty and ensuring the well-being of people with disabilities have been central to China’s broader anti-poverty campaign and its ongoing efforts to consolidate related progress.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
New guidelines aim to protect tourists’ rights
China has updated its rules for handling tourism-related complaints, a move aimed at improving administrative efficiency and strengthening protection for travelers’ rights.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently issued new guidelines on tourism-related complaints that will take effect on March 15. The current rules, released in 2010 by the former national tourism administration, will lapse on the same day.
The new guidelines define tourism-related complaints as disputes in which travelers believe tourism operators or their employees have infringed on their lawful rights and ask culture and tourism bureaus or other government agencies to intervene.
From: China Daily
China issues guideline to advance child-friendly development
China has rolled out a guideline to advance child-friendly development across society, aiming to better protect minors’ lawful rights and interests and promote children's healthy, all-round growth, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on March 17.
The guideline, jointly issued by the NDRC and the Office of National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, draws on experience from pilot child-friendly city programs and calls for the full-scale advancement of child-friendly development, with coordinated measures covering social policy, public services, rights protection, growth spaces and development environments.
From: Xinhua
China to strengthen legal protection for minors involved in civil cases
China’s top court on March 18 issued guidelines for courts to handle civil cases involving minors, in a bid to prevent juvenile delinquency and protect young people’s rights and interests through standardized procedures.
The guidelines, consisting of 39 articles across five sections, are the Supreme People’s Court’s first judicial document specifically addressing civil trials involving minors.
They have established the “best interests of the child” as the overarching principle for handling such cases, and reinforced preventive measures to curb juvenile delinquency at its source.
From: Xinhua
China takes steps to support graduates’ employment ahead of graduation season
China has announced plans to reduce fees and taxes for businesses ahead of the graduation season, according to a joint circular released on March 20.
Issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Finance, the circular outlines a 16-point plan to stabilize youth employment as a record 12.7 million university graduates enter the job market this year.
The document details measures to encourage hiring, including social insurance subsidies and tax reductions. Authorities said they will streamline policy delivery to ensure businesses can benefit quickly, with a particular focus on private-sector recruitment in advanced manufacturing and modern services.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China calls for improved global human rights governance on behalf of 60 countries
China, on behalf of 60 countries, delivered a joint statement at the 61st session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on March 24, elaborating on the rich human rights implications of the Global Governance Initiative and calling on all parties to jointly build a fair, just and mutually beneficial global human rights governance system.
Jia Guide, China’s permanent representative to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said the world is currently in turbulence and transformation, with the UN and multilateralism facing headwinds, which underscores the urgent need to enhance the effectiveness of global governance.
From: Xinhua
China to establish nationwide long-term care insurance system
China on March 25 issued a set of guidelines to accelerate the establishment of a nationwide long-term care insurance system, with the aim of addressing the basic care needs of people who have difficulty in taking care of themselves.
The long-term care insurance system is a form of social insurance designed to provide services or financial support for basic living care and related medical services to individuals who are unable to care for themselves, according to the guidelines issued by the general offices of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.
Since China began piloting long-term care insurance in 2016, nearly 310 million people have enrolled, and over 3.3 million people with disabilities have benefited from the program.
From: Xinhua
Symposium held on book about Xi leading China’s poverty elimination endeavors
A symposium was held on March 26 in Beijing on a book about how the Communist Party of China (CPC) secured victory in China’s fight against poverty under the leadership of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Chen Xi, president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), attended the event and delivered remarks.
Featuring representative events and people involved in the battle against poverty, the book narrates how the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, led the whole Party and people of all ethnic groups in targeted poverty alleviation and eradication, vividly highlighting historic achievements in poverty alleviation.
From: Xinhua
