China - ILO Cooperation

The People’s Republic of China is a founding member State of the ILO. The country has ratified 26 Conventions, which include four Fundamental Conventions, two prioritized Governance Conventions, and 20 Technical Conventions. The ILO and China have a long-standing partnership that has intensified in recent years on South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) and with voluntary contributions by China to the ILO’s Development Cooperation Programme.

China's strategic contributions to the ILO

In addition to its collaboration with the ILO on thematic areas of shared interest defined by a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) discussed in greater detail below, China supports SSC projects in the areas of social protection, skills development, and decent work promotion in several ASEAN countries.

China’s voluntary contributions to the ILO, including China UN Funds and funds provided to ITC-ILO Turin, between 2018 and 2022 totaled almost US$ 5.2 million.

China's support to ILO results

Priorities in the China-ILO partnership


Within the scope of South South CooperationUnder the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in 2019 China has further intensified its partnership with the ILO around shared priorities including through agreements signed between the ILO and three Ministries:
  • Promoting decent work, social justice and a human-centred future of work: an MOU on “South-South Cooperation under the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative” was signed between the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) and the ILO. Areas of cooperation include social protection, skills development and labour governance.
  • Supporting occupational safety through South-South Cooperation: the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) and the ILO signed an MOU on “South-South Cooperation on Work Safety Under the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative,” which leverages China’s experience with reducing accidents and fatalities at work, while recognizing the need for continuous training and other preventive measures that can be supported by the ILO’s 100 years of experience in occupational health and safety.
  • Promoting the effective implementation of the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road: an MOU was signed on “Cooperation for the Promotion of the Effective Implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (as amended, MLC, 2006) through the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative” between the Ministry of Transport and the ILO. This cooperation between China and the ILO on stronger enforcement of the Convention’s provisions aims to help safeguard the lives of seafarers and improve the well-being of maritime staff.