China will host a Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Beijing later this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced this week. The event coincides with the 30th anniversary of the historic Fourth World Conference on Women, which set a precedent for international collaboration on gender parity.
In an exclusive interview with CGTN’s Tian Wei, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed reflected on progress since the landmark 1995 conference: "We see more girls in schools, fewer maternal deaths, and women leading governments and boardrooms." However, she emphasized persistent challenges: "Today, 2.4 billion women lack equal economic opportunities. Climate change and conflicts disproportionately affect women. I hope others stand on our shoulders to reach higher."
The summit aims to accelerate progress toward UN Sustainable Development Goal 5, with Beijing positioned as a bridge between developing and developed nations. Mohammed praised China’s technical training programs for women in agriculture and renewable energy as "models for South-South cooperation."
With global economic turbulence heightening risks for women’s workforce participation, researchers anticipate the summit will address digital inclusion and private-sector accountability. The event is expected to attract representatives from 130 countries and regions.
