Zimbabwe's Minister of Women's Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa delivered a powerful message at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, positioning African women as architects of economic and social progress. Speaking to CGTN's Cui Yingjie, Mutsvangwa emphasized that women now drive 60% of Zimbabwe's GDP through small and medium enterprises – a statistic that underscores their growing influence across the continent.
"Women are not just beneficiaries but the foundation of change," Mutsvangwa stated, praising their resilience in adopting digital transformation strategies. The minister drew parallels between Africa's development trajectory and China's gender equality initiatives, noting that collaboration between the two nations has created new opportunities for skills development and entrepreneurship training.
As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, Mutsvangwa called for renewed commitment to women's empowerment through three key pillars: green development, inclusive growth, and cross-border knowledge sharing. She specifically acknowledged Chinese President Xi Jinping's support in creating vocational training programs that have enabled Zimbabwean women to scale their businesses and enter new markets.
The forum outcomes signal stronger China-Africa cooperation in gender equality initiatives, with digital economy partnerships emerging as a key focus area for future collaboration.
