China is committed to advancing global women's initiatives, said Hu Zhangliang, vice-chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), as he unveiled a landmark report ahead of the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, set to take place in Beijing on Monday.
The report, released as part of CIDCA's China's Practice in International Development Cooperation series, focuses on how China's foreign aid has supported the development of women’s causes worldwide.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Hu praised China’s efforts and outlined key highlights from the report, emphasizing the country’s role in empowering women through international cooperation.
"President Xi Jinping has pointed out that women are the creators of human civilization and the drivers of social progress. Without the liberation and progress of women, there can be no human liberation and progress. 30 years ago, the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which set strategic goals and policy frameworks for promoting gender equality and protecting women's rights. Over the past three decades, the spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women has continuously inspired positive changes. Today, we also wish to officially release the 7th issue of 'China's Practice in International Development Cooperation' through the CGTN platform, focusing on 'Women Empowerment and Development.' This is the first time CIDCA has published a special report on China's international development cooperation in the field of women's development," he said. Hu emphasized China’s core principles in supporting global women’s development through international cooperation.
"As the Global Women's Summit is about to convene again, stakeholders will gather in Beijing to discuss the development of women's issues worldwide. The report highlights that China consistently adheres to the key principles of 'protecting women's basic rights,' 'respecting women's creative spirit,' and 'focusing on the actual needs of the recipient countries' in its international cooperation for women's empowerment and development. In other words, China focuses on safeguarding and ensuring the basic rights of women, emphasizes the active role and creative spirit of women in economic and social development, and determines the methods and areas of aid based on the specific needs of the recipient countries, to help these countries promote the comprehensive development of women," he said.
Hu also outlined a series of targeted initiatives aimed at advancing global women's development, emphasizing multi-stakeholder collaboration, increased investment, and support for women in crisis-affected regions.
"We will promote greater participation from multiple stakeholders and more investment of resources, focusing on areas such as education, poverty reduction, health, and the environment. We aim to jointly support the implementation of more 'small yet smart' livelihood projects, prioritizing women and girls as the primary beneficiaries. We will continue to increase investments from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund in women’s issues, providing much-needed assistance to women and children in humanitarian crises, including war-torn areas and regions affected by poverty," he said.
"We support the United Nations in prioritizing women’s work and look forward to the UN Women and other agencies leveraging their professional advantages and mobilizing diverse resources to create an international environment conducive to women’s development. We also hope that more developed countries and international organizations will establish broader partnership networks, working together to help women across the world gain protection, acquire skills, and improve their well-being," he continued.
China unveils global women's development report ahead of leaders' summit in Beijing
