Abstract: The laboratory animal ethics and welfare theory in western countries originated from the philosophical thinking on relationship between human and natural things excluding humans in the early western culture. The modern western theory and practice of laboratory animal ethics and welfare are more advanced due to the long-standing debate on animal rights in the western society and culture area. Although laboratory animals industry in China started relatively late, our country increased exchanges and cooperation with western societies in all fields under reform and opening-up policy, and further transformed advanced ideas and technology of western countries combining with our own actual situation. As a result, Chinese laboratory animal industry has developed in a leaps and bounds way. Laboratory animal ethics and welfare in China follow the pace of the development of laboratory animal industry, which gradually narrows the gap with the western countries both in theory and practice. It is believed that laboratory animal ethics and welfare study in China and western countries will complement each other and make progress together in the future.