Xi hails progress made in women's development worldwide over 30 years

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed the progress made in women's development worldwide over the past 30 years.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, Xi recalled the Fourth World Conference on Women held in the Chinese capital in 1995, saying the conference drew up a roadmap that has since guided the cause of women around the world.

"Thirty years ago, the Fourth World Conference on Women set the lofty goal of 'Action for Equality, Development and Peace,' and adopted the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action," he said in his keynote speech.

"Over the past 30 years, guided by the spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women, the cause of women has been thriving around the world, adding brilliant splendor to the progress of human civilization. Equality between men and women is now a universal consensus of the international community. A great many outstanding women have stepped up to take the international stage, living their lives to the full and making contributions with their wisdom and strength," said the Chinese president.

The two-day meeting, co-hosted by China and UN Women, gathers heads of state, government leaders, parliamentary leaders, deputy prime ministers, ministerial officials, leaders of international organizations, and friendly personnel from various continents.

Xi hails progress made in women's development worldwide over 30 years

Xi hails progress made in women's development worldwide over 30 years

Xi hails progress made in women's development worldwide over 30 years

Xi hails progress made in women's development worldwide over 30 years

Xi hails progress made in women's development worldwide over 30 years

Though tens of billions of pesos spent on flood control projects in recent years in the Philippines, questions have been raised about the value of that investment as flooding from Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 114 people dead and 127 missing, with more than 2.14 million people affected nationwide.

In Talisay City, Cebu Province, homes have been reduced to rubble, mud has clogged up streets and families are left picking through the wreckage of homes that have been swept away by floodwaters.

"I saw a banana being washed away and I grabbed it for breakfast. It's very hard because our food at home, like rice, also got washed away. We used to live here, but most of our houses have been swept away,”said Mary Jean Apog who has taken shelter in a makeshift tent built from storm debris.

Many residents in flood-affected areas have been left wondering whether money earmarked by the government for flood control projects has been spent wisely.

Between 2022 and 2025, more than 400 flood-protection projects worth over 26 billion pesos (about 441 million U.S. dollars) have been launched in Cebu, the second highest investment of all the nation's provinces.

Vince Dizon, secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) visited Talisay City on Wednesday, where he said people should be held accountable for the poor state of the region's flood defenses.

"Poorly planned, poorly executed, and we don't know if there are anomalies here. That will be up to the ICI (Independent Commission on Infrastructure) to find. But definitely, someone should be held accountable here," he said.

According to the country's disaster management authority, more than 6,700 houses were damaged in the typhoon, and hospitals, schools, and other public facilities suffered extensive damage. Power and communications were disrupted in many towns, closing schools and businesses.

Authorities have declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster.

Flood control projects under question as Typhoon wreaks havoc in Philippines