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Phoebe Zhang

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged US$110 million for female empowerment worldwide as the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women got under way in Beijing on Monday.
The two-day event co-hosted by China and UN Women commemorates the 30th anniversary of the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women in the Chinese capital.
The 1995 conference, where 189 countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, is widely regarded as a global turning point for gender equality.
Delivering a keynote speech on Monday, Xi called for an “inclusive and harmonious social environment where women are free from discrimination and prejudice”.
Women’s all-round development still faced “complex challenges” and was a shared global duty, the Chinese leader said, as he pledged to donate US$10 million to UN Women over the next five years.
Another US$100 million would be earmarked for the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to work with international organisations to promote the development of women and girls.
Established by China in 2015, the fund focuses on areas such as poverty reduction, disaster risk management, healthcare and sustainable development.

“China will support 1,000 small and beautiful livelihood projects for women and girls as the priority beneficiaries, and invite 50,000 women to China for exchange and training programmes,” Xi added.
More than 600 million women were caught up in war and conflicts around the world, and millions were still trapped in extreme poverty, Xi noted, highlighting challenges to the women’s cause.
He called on the world to “firmly crack down on all sorts of violence against women”, and urged the creation of a level playing field in politics and governance.
He also made a raft of suggestions for women’s development, including cultivating a more peaceful environment, empowering women with technology and innovation, and eradicating gender bias.
He also sought to highlight progress made by China in this regard. He said its victory in the “biggest battle against poverty in human history” had lifted some 690 million Chinese women out of poverty, reduced maternal death rates by 80 per cent compared to 1995, and helped women to make up more than 40 per cent of the national workforce.
“In the journey of Chinese modernisation, every woman plays a leading role,” Xi said.
China has been actively promoting the summit since March, when Foreign Minister Wang Yi first announced that Beijing would host the event.
Universities and official organisations have hosted seminars to explore advancements in women’s rights, while state media have held up China as a model for gender equality, suggesting that other nations could learn from its experience.


Despite the positive portrayal by state media, criticism persists that Chinese women still do not enjoy equal rights.
In 2023, a report by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women noted that women deputies made up less than 27 per cent of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature.
The report also noted that there were no women on China’s top executive leadership body at the time. It was referring to the all-male Politburo unveiled in October 2022 at the end of the 20th Communist Party congress. For the first time in 20 years, the line-up did not include any women.
Critics also frequently raise concerns about sexual and gender-based violence, restrictions on women’s rights activists and non-governmental organisations, and gender discrimination across many aspects of society, including the workplace.


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Women and gender

China’s Xi pledges US$110 million for women’s empowerment as Beijing hosts global summit

President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose with national leaders and other delegates ahead of the opening ceremony for the Global Women’s Summit, in Beijing on Monday. Photo: Pool via Reuters

President Xi Jinping delivers his keynote speech at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing on Monday. Photo: Pool via Reuters

China to host global women’s summit, with President Xi Jinping to deliver keynote speech

Beijing will co-host a summit with the UN marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Photo: EPA

Chinese President Xi Jinping says the country has more than 100 laws and regulations to ensure women’s rights. Photo: Kyodo

State media frames China as women’s rights role model in countdown to global summit

Next week’s Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing has been called a “milestone” in promoting women’s issues and empowerment. Photo: Xinhua

China’s focus turns to women’s rights progress as global summit approaches

Beijing is expected to soon host a global summit on gender equality and women’s empowerment to mark the 30th anniversary of the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women, which was also held in the Chinese capital. Photo: Reuters

The digital economy is seen as a driver of gender equality that could empower women economically. Photo: AP

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China

Politics

Diplomacy

President Xi Jinping highlights shared global duty as he pledges US$10 million for UN Women and US$100 million for China-led fund


President Xi Jinping highlights shared global duty as he pledges US$10 million for UN Women and US$100 million for China-led fund.


Xi Jinping

Feminism

China’s Xi pledges US$110 million for women’s empowerment as Beijing hosts global summit

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}President Xi Jinping highlights shared global duty as he pledges US$10 million for UN Women and US$100 million for China-led fund

President Xi Jinping highlights shared global duty as he pledges US$10 million for UN Women and US$100 million for China-led fund