Xi Jinping opens Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing

In his speech, Xi recalled the historic Beijing World Conference on Women in 1995, which adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, key documents to promote gender equality.

By Katherin Hormigó Rubio, translated from the Spanish

Beijing -- "Women play an important role in the creation, promotion and advancement of human civilization. The international community has a shared responsibility to advance the cause of women," Xi Jinping said, stressing the importance of continuing the fight for gender equality, especially in times of global challenges, during the opening of the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women which is being held in Beijing on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

In his opening remarks, Xi highlighted the progress made in the fight for gender equality, while acknowledging the challenges that still persist around the world.

With the participation of 800 guests from 110 countries and international organizations, the event is a key platform to discuss policies and actions that promote women's rights at the global level.

A balance of the progress and challenges that remain

In his speech, Xi recalled the historic Beijing World Conference on Women in 1995, which adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, key documents to promote gender equality. According to the Chinese president, the past 30 years have witnessed significant progress: gender equality has become a global consensus, and 189 countries have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. In addition, more than 1,600 laws related to women's rights have been enacted in more than 190 countries.

However, Xi also emphasized the persistent challenges: "More than 600 million women and girls are still trapped in conflicts and wars, and about 10% of women in the world continue to live in extreme poverty," he explained. In addition, he highlighted violence, discrimination and the growing digital gender gap as obstacles that still need to be overcome.

During his speech, Xi Jinping proposed four key actions to accelerate the comprehensive advancement of women:

1. Fostering an enabling environment for women's development: He stressed the need to ensure global peace and security so that women can thrive without the shadows of war and violence. He also proposed improving the protection of women in conflict zones and strengthening laws against gender-based violence.

2. To advance the high-quality progress of women's initiatives: Xi emphasized that global modernization should benefit women by leveraging the opportunities presented by the technological revolution to empower them and promote their involvement in green and digital development.

3. Develop governance frameworks to protect women's rights: The Chinese president advocated improving laws and institutions that protect women's rights, promoting an inclusive social environment and ensuring their participation in political and social decision-making processes.

4. Promote global cooperation: Xi suggested enhancing global collaboration in women's causes, emphasizing that women should actively participate in global governance and the establishment of platforms that advance women's welfare, particularly in developing nations.

China and its commitment to women's empowerment

The head of state also highlighted China's achievements in improving women's rights. "China has won the battle against poverty, improving the lives of 690 million women. We have reduced maternal mortality by almost 80% since 1995," said the president, highlighting the positive impact that the country's development has had on women's lives.

Economically, women in China make up more than 40% of the workforce and more than half of entrepreneurs in tech companies. "Today, Chinese women are taking an active part in state governance, technological innovation and rural development," Xi added.

In an effort to continue supporting the global advancement of women's rights, Xi announced a series of concrete initiatives for the next five years. China will donate $10 million to UN Women, in addition to allocating $100 million to the China Fund for Global Development and South-South Cooperation, aimed at financing development projects for women and girls in collaboration with international organizations.

China plans to launch 1,000 welfare programs and will invite 50,000 women to join exchange and training programs in the country. Additionally, Xi announced the creation of the Global Center for Women's Capacity Building, which aims to train more female talents and foster international cooperation.

In closing, President Xi Jinping quoted an old Chinese saying: "Constant dedication produces a lasting fragrance," underscoring the importance of continuing to advance the fight for gender equality. "We must accelerate the process of women's comprehensive development and together create a better future for humanity," he concluded.

The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women will continue on October 13 and 14, with a focus on strengthening global commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC