By He Yin, People’s Daily

On March 14, a China-Russia-Iran trilateral meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue was successfully held in Beijing. The three parties engaged in in-depth discussions and issued a joint statement, reiterating that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard.

At a critical juncture for the Iranian nuclear issue, the Beijing meeting marked a constructive effort by China, Russia, and Iran to promote a political settlement, providing a platform for enhanced dialogue, consensus-building, and creating favorable conditions for the eventual resumption of negotiations.

With the Iranian nuclear issue at another crucial crossroads, the urgency to gain time for peace has intensified. Relevant parties should be committed to addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure, or threat of force.

The trilateral joint statement called on relevant parties to refrain from any action that may escalate the situation, so as to create a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.

The three sides reaffirmed the importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). China and Russia welcomed Iran’s reiteration that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for development of nuclear weapons, supported Iran’s policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and stressed the need to fully respect Iran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT.

While complex, the solution to the Iranian nuclear issue is unequivocal: full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iransigned the JCPOA with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany in July 2015, accepting restrictions its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

The JCPOA was subsequently endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231. It represents a major achievement in addressing sensitive issues through dialogue and negotiation, a successful practice of multilateralism, and a unique and significant contribution to maintaining regional stability and upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

During the Beijing meeting, China, Russia and Iran stressed the importance of the UNSC Resolution 2231, including its timeframes. While recent expressions of willingness to negotiate were noted, all efforts must adhere to the JCPOA framework, preserve existing consensus, and address all parties’ legitimate concerns in a balanced manner.

Amid the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, where regional security continues to deteriorate and hotspot issues emerge one after another, resolving the Iranian nuclear issue is critical to safeguarding global non-proliferation regimeand regional peace.

All parties should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work toward a widely accepted regional security architecture to achieve lasting stability.

All parties should play a constructive role in easing regional tensions and avoid linking the Iranian nuclear issue with other matters. Otherwise, this would only escalate conflicts and confrontation, further complicate the Iranian nuclear issue, and create new tensions or even crises.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a party to the JCPOA, China has consistently advocated for a political and diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, the preservation of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and the promotion of peace and stability in the Middle East.

During the Beijing meeting, China put forward five points on the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. First, stay committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and oppose the use of force and illegal sanctions. Second, stay committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and take a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Third, stay committed to the framework of the JCPOA as the basis for new consensus. Fourth, stay committed to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and oppose pressing for intervention by the UN Security Council. Fifth, stay committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seek consensus through consultation.

These propositions reflect China’s constructive role in addressing the Iranian nuclear issue under new circumstances and demonstrate China’s major country responsibility.

The China-Russia-Iran meeting in Beijing marked an important step in the right direction. The history and reality of the Iranian nuclear issue have repeatedly shown that sanctions, pressure, and threat of force offer no solution—dialogue and consultation remain the only viable path.

China will stay in communication and coordination with all relevant parties, actively promote talks for peace, and work toward a just, balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue while safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting international and regional peace and stability.

By Wu Jun, Zhang Wenhao, People’s Daily

At a recent press conference on people’s livelihood, Lei Haichao, head of China’s National Health Commission, announced that the average life expectancy of Chinese citizens reached 79 years in 2024, marking a 0.4-year increase from 2023 and achieving the target set by China’s 14th Five-Year Plan(2021-2025) ahead of schedule.

Life expectancy is a hypothetical metric indicating the average number of years a newborn is projected to live if current age-specific mortality rates remain constant.

Wu Jian, head of Zhengzhou University’s College of Public Health, clarified that life expectancy differs from average lifespan: “Life expectancy is a predictive estimate based on existing healthcare conditions and mortality patterns. It rises as medical advancements reduce mortality rates.”

Wu emphasized that life expectancy serves as a critical indicator of population health, reflecting societal progress in healthcare, environmental hygiene, and quality of life.

Lei highlighted China’s global standing: among 53 upper-middleincome countries, China ranks fourth in life expectancy; within the G20, it places tenth. Notably, China’s life expectancy surpasses that of 21 high-income nations, a result Lei attributed to traditional Chinese health practices and lifestyle choices.

Eight provincial-level regions — Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Hainan — have achieved life expectancies exceeding 80 years. “China holds clear potential for further gains in longevity,” Lei noted, “as public demand for health improvements grows and sustained efforts remain essential.”

Zhang Shuijun, chief physician at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, linked the longevity gains to China’s socioeconomic development and healthcare advancements, underscoring the role of national medical insurance policies and the Healthy China initiative. However, he cautioned that rising life expectancy also signals an expanding elderly population. By the end of 2024, China’s population aged 60 and above had surpassed 310 million.

To address aging-related challenges, China issued a document on deepening reform and development of elderly care services in December last year. The document outlined a comprehensive framework for establishing a elderly care system tailored to China’s conditions, ensuring better protection for the aging population.

Key measures for reforming elderly care services include accelerating the development of a three-tier urban-rural care network: establishing county-level integrated service platforms, township- and street-level regional care centers, and community-based care stations. This aims to create a “15-minute elderly care service accessibility” system.

The reforms also focus on coordinating home-based, community, and institutional care models to provide demand-driven, integrated medical and elderly services. These include meal services, medical support, personal hygiene assistance, and emergency response services.

Additionally, care institutions will be categorized into three types: basic social security, publicly subsidized, and market-driven models, thereby meeting diverse elderly care needs.

By Liu Huawen

In this year’s”two sessions,”China hasunveiled a host ofpromising policy updates that not only reflect its new strides in modernization but also lay out forward-lookingdevelopment blueprints. True to its distinctive national trajectory,China has navigated a complex array of challenges to register robust gains in economic growth, social progress, and the protection ofhuman rights.

At aMay 2023address, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a closer alignment between high-quality population development and high-quality living standards. He also emphasized the need to integrate infrastructure investment with tangible human development. This approach, as laid out in this year’s government work report, seeks to channel more funds and resources to serve the people and meet their needs – reaffirmingChina’s human rights philosophy that centers on the people.

The report outlines an expansive agenda on enhancing social well-being, pairing lofty macroeconomic goals with targeted measures at the micro level.

According to the report, China will better protect the rights and interests of people in flexible employment and new forms of employment and expand trials of occupational injury insurance. Government subsidies for basic medical insurance for rural and non-working urban residents will be raised by a further 30 yuan per person, and subsidies for basic public health services will be increased by five yuan per person. The minimum basic old-age benefits for rural and non-working urban residents will be raised by 20 yuan.

To actively respond to population aging, China will vigorously develop the silver economy and advance community-supported at-home elderly care services. More care will be provided to functionally impaired elderly persons, and more support will be given for providing assisted catering services for the elderly andfor the purchase and rental of assistive rehabilitation devices.The country will also expand public-interest elderly care services.

Such efforts aim to meet the Chinese people’s expectations for a better life and further advance China’s human rights cause.

Legal development under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is a cornerstone in bolstering China’s human rights agenda. The country’s historical legal advances have not only underpinned sustained economic growth but also ensuredlong-term social stability.

Meanwhile, the evolution of China’s whole-process people’s democracy has opened new avenues for citizen participation in policymaking, economic activities, social affairs and cultural life in accordance with the law – an active engagement central toChina’s modernization drive.

In advancing Chinese modernization and achieving common prosperity, no ethnic group should be left behind.

The experience of Xinjiang provides a telling example of these policies in action. Over the past year, the autonomous region recorded a 6.1 percent year-on-year increase in GDP and a 10.5 percent rise in general public budget revenue, with more than 77 percent of its fiscal spending allocated to bolstering public welfare.

The region’s railway freight volume grew by 10.6 percent – the fastest rate nationwide – while tourism boomed with over 300 million visitors. In a striking environmental transformation, the Taklimakan Desert, once known as the “sea of death,” has been completely encircled with a sand-blocking green belt. The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the world’s longest expressway tunnel, stands as a testament to engineering prowess. These developments collectively paint a picture of a united, thriving, and culturally dynamic Xinjiang that is capturing global attention.

China’s strategy of advancing human rightsthrough developmenthas far-reaching global implications. By embedding human rights protection within its national development framework, China has promoted human rights through economic growth and social progress. Within the United Nations framework, China has championed a model of human rights governance based on equality, mutual respect and constructive dialogue and cooperation.

Human rights are not aone-size-fits-all proposition. Each nation should chart its own pathbased on its unique historical and social context. In its proactive efforts ranging from poverty alleviation to universal education, technological innovation, green development, and social security, China offers valuable human rights development experiences for other developing countries.

In an era where the pursuit of peace, development, and human rights is a universal aspirationand the prevailing trend of global progress, China insists that international cooperation remains key to building a community with a shared future for mankind, whether in advancing poverty reduction, safeguarding peace, or tackling climate change and public health challenges.

It remains steadfast in promoting global human rights governance and will continue to contribute to the advancement of human rights worldwide.

(Liu Huawen is the executive director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ human rights research center.)