Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Emphasizing the theme “Carrying Forward the Spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women,” Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to advancing gender equality and accelerating women’s all-round development globally.
Xi highlighted that over the past three decades, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action has inspired worldwide progress in women’s empowerment, with more than 190 countries enacting legal frameworks to protect women’s rights. Despite these achievements, he cautioned that deep-rooted issues, such as poverty, violence, and discrimination, continue to hinder women’s progress.
Outlining a four-point proposal, Xi urged the international community to:
- Foster peaceful and enabling environments for women’s growth.
- Drive high-quality development through innovation and inclusivity.
- Strengthen governance and legal protection of women’s rights.
- Deepen global cooperation under the United Nations to ensure women in developing countries benefit from modernization and reform.
Xi also underscored China’s domestic progress, noting that women now comprise over 40% of the national workforce and play key roles in entrepreneurship, governance, and innovation. He emphasized that Chinese women “hold up half the sky,” contributing actively to the country’s modernization and rural revitalization efforts.
To further support global women’s development, Xi announced several new initiatives: a $10 million donation to UN Women, $100 million in China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund for women-focused projects, 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood programs, 50,000 training exchanges for women, and the establishment of a Global Center for Women’s Capacity Building.
Concluding his address, Xi called for unity, shared responsibility, and enduring dedication to building a future where women around the world can thrive equally and contribute to global peace and progress.
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