In 2002, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) committed to achieving a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. After failing to meet this goal, the international communities renewed their commitments and, in 2010, adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, including the 2020 global biodiversity targets (Aichi Biodiversity Targets). As a Party to the CBD, it is important for China to assess progress toward the 2020 targets, and identify gaps and future priorities for biodiversity conservation. We created an indicator system for assessing the 2020 targets based on a pressure-state-benefit-response framework. The indicator system contains 17 Class A indicators and 42 Class B indicators. It covers four major aspects: (1) the status of biodiversity (the extent of forests, grasslands, wetlands, and deserts; total standing stock volume; stock volume of natural forests; total output of fresh grass in natural grasslands; the Marine Trophic Index; the Red List Index; and traditional varieties and breeds used in production); (2) ecosystem services (supply of goods; water regulation; windbreaks; sand control; soil conservation; per capita annual net income of rural households; and the number of people in poverty in regions where natural forest conservation projects were implemented); (3) pressure (annual waste water emissions; COD from industrial wastewater; SO₂ from exhaust gas; soot from exhaust gas and industrial solid wastes; annual application of pesticides and fertilizers; climate change; the number of new invasive alien species found every two decades; and the number and batch of harmful species intercepted by customs and port authorities); and (4) response (the number and area of protected areas; forest growing stock in counties where natural forest conservation projects were implemented; capacity of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) units; treatment rate of municipal wastewater; comprehensive utilization rate of solid waste; area of solar water heaters; the number of solar stoves; annual output of agricultural waste disposal projects; websites about China's biodiversity found using a Google search; the number of academic papers on biodiversity identified through a search of the VIP literature database; and investments into projects on natural forest resource protection, wildlife conservation in nature reserves, and wetland conservation). We assessed progress toward the 2020 Biodiversity Targets using these biodiversity indicators. For Targets 2, 16, and 18, no assessments were made because of a lack of relevant national indicators. The indicators identified various levels of improvement in Targets 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, and 20; China is on track toward meeting these targets. In particular, considerable progress has been made toward Target 3 (incentive measures), Target 5 (reduction in habitat degradation and loss for ecosystems other than grasslands), Target 11 (increasing protected areas and strengthening management effectiveness), Target 14 (restoring important ecosystem services), and Target 15 (reinforcing ecosystem resilience and carbon sequestration). However, decreasing trends were noted for Target 5 (primarily for indicators of grassland conservation), Target 6 (sustainable fisheries), Target 8 (controlling environmental pollution), Target 12 (protecting endangered species), and Target 13 (protecting genetic resources). This suggests that, although we have already done tremendous work, we should develop more effective strategies and take practical measures toward achieving these targets. In general, biodiversity continues to decline in China. There are many challenges for biodiversity conservation because of wildlife habitat loss or degradation, severe pollution of key river basins and marine areas, the spread of invasive alien species, large-scale monoculture plantations, and climate change. Thus, more effective indicators need to be developed for the values of biodiversity, sustainable consumption, ecosystem degradation, representativeness and management effectiveness of protected areas, access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing from their use, and the effects of agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, and climate change on biodiversity. In addition, more attention should be given to the restoration of ecosystem functions and biodiversity, conservation of endangered species and genetic resources, and prevention and control of invasive alien species.