2019 is a special year for both China and UNFPA.

It marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which used to be among the poorest countries but has now developed into the world’s second largest economy and is notable for the improved well-being of its population, as 740 million citizens were lifted out of poverty over the last 40 years.

2019 marks also 50 years since UNFPA began operations worldwide, 40 years since UNFPA started working in China, and 25 years since the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, which for the first time put women’s rights and choices at the center of sustainable development.

Back in 1979, China’s huge population was facing significant poverty and poor health issues. The Government of China for the first time received assistance from an international organization in relation to population issues.