ILO-China Partnership
ILO and China commemorate 40 years of partnership advancing decent work
The ILO and China reflect on over four decades of ILO–China collaboration and reaffirms their shared commitment to a human-centred future of work — carrying this legacy forward with innovation and action.
9 December 2025
Beijing, China (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization and China have forged a strong and enduring partnership since China resumed its activities in the ILO in 1983. Over the past four decades, the ILO and China have worked together to promote decent work and social justice in China and beyond.
On 10 December 2025, on the occasion of the ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo’s participation in the “1+10” Dialogue with Premier Li Qiang, the ILO and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), together with social partners, co-hosted an event in Beijing under the theme “China and the ILO: Legacy, Innovation, Action” to reflect on more than four decades of ILO–China collaboration and reaffirms their shared commitment to a human-centred future of work — carrying this legacy forward with innovation and action.
Amid the magnificent course of China’s reform and opening-up, the country’s human resources and social security undertakings have achieved remarkable progress… providing strong support for China’s economic and social development and offering valuable Chinese experience for global labour governance. The ILO-China Cooperation has played a positive role in this process.
Yu Jiadong, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security
A look back at lasting cooperation
Over the past decades, the ILO–China partnership has grown alongside China’s remarkable socioeconomic transformation. Over the years, the ILO has worked closely with MOHRSS, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the China Enterprise Confederation, line ministries, universities, research institutions and related stakeholders to strengthen labour governance, expand decent work opportunities and promote social justice in China and beyond.
Over the past years, the ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia has actively served as a bridge, working together with China’s tripartite constituents, including the ACFTU, to combine the ILO’s principles with China’s national context and carry out a wide range of fruitful cooperation projects.
Wei Dichun, Vice Chairman of ACFTU
Participants from government, employers, workers, academia and the ILO shared early memories of cooperation in social protection, collective bargaining, entrepreneurship and employment creation and the promotion and application of international labour standards to shape national labour legislation.
In recent years, the partnership has grown globally through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, enabling China to share its experience on skills development, employment, social protection and trade union capacity-building across Asia, Africa and beyond.
Throughout this journey, the ILO has supported China’s historic poverty reduction efforts—contributing to the elimination of rural extreme poverty in 2021 through programmes on employment, skills, entrepreneurship and social protection. Together with national partners, the ILO has helped strengthen China’s social security system -- now the largest in the world.
Together with national partners, the ILO has helped strengthen China’s social security system -- now the largest in the world.
A looking forward to the future
Today, China is moving toward high-income status while advancing quickly in green energy, digitalization and AI. Like other countries, it faces the challenge of ensuring that these transitions create not only growth but also quality jobs and better working conditions. Strong labour market institutions and inclusive policies is essential.
Over the past decades, the ILO-China cooperation has yielded fruitful results. This milestone also represents a new starting point, as both sides now face new opportunities and challenges that call for further innovation and advancement.
Zhu Hongren, Standing Vice-President and Secretary-General of CEC
Participants emphasized the importance of human-centred development and growth within and between countries. They highlighted the key role of the ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia in linking China to global labour governance — bringing international experience to China and increasingly sharing China’s innovations with the world. They also stressed the need for a platform to document China’s approaches to human-centred development and share them with other ILO member states.
The discussion further called for stronger voices from developing countries in global labour governance to ensure more inclusive policymaking and shared prosperity.
Looking ahead, the ILO and China reaffirm their commitment to working to advance the Decent Work Agenda in China and beyond. The achievements of the past decades provide a strong foundation for deeper cooperation.
The ILO is excited for the next chapter of our partnership. Thank you for this extraordinary lasting collaboration. Let us forge ahead—hand in hand—toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and just future for all.
Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO
Together, the ILO and China will continue shaping a future of work built on equity, fairness and no one leaves behind.