The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) held the Fourth China-Arab States Women's Forum in Beijing on July 21, 2022. The theme was "women's education and innovation in science and technology in China and Arab States." Lin Yi, Vice-President and Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, attended and delivered the keynote speech. Li Chen, Ambassador for Affairs of China-Arab Cooperation Forum at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the forum. Other speakers included ambassadors to China of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, Bahrain and Algeria, representatives from the embassies of Qatar, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia and Palestine, and Wang Shufang, Deputy Director of the Navigation Center of China Transport Telecommunications and Information Center.

Lin outlined the historic progress reached in the development of Chinese women's undertakings, under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. Lin also spoke of the achievements in women's communications between China and Arab countries. She expressed Chinese women's willingness to enhance exchanges and deepen cooperation with Arab countries, to advance gender equality and women's development in the fields of education, science, technology and innovation, and to make new contributions to the building of a closer community with a shared future between China and Arab countries.

Li said women represent an important force in the advancement of the great civilizations of China and Arab countries. He said he expected to see new achievements reached in women's cooperation, and in this way, to enrich the meaning of developing China-Arab strategic partnership.

Participants praised the fact that women and the platform of China-Arab States Women's Forum have made contributions to the enhancement of friendship between China and Arab countries. They also discussed the roles women from various countries have played in science, technology and innovation, as well as in the advancement of economic and social progress. They expressed their sincere wishes for and firm belief in a promising future.

China-Arab States Women's Forum is an important component of the mechanism under the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Since 2015, the women's forum has been held for four times.

After the Fourth China-Arab States Women's Forum concluded, three ambassadors to China were interviewed by Women of China. They shared their feelings about this year's forum.

Milia Jabbour, Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to China, stressed the importance of the women's forum, saying "the theme of our forum is important, because it brings together China and the Arab world." China has made huge advancements in technology and innovation, which has been acknowledged by the whole world, she added. She also said the forum's theme was "about how we can make 'bridges' and find more exchanges between our two worlds, in order to benefit both China and the Arab world through the sharing of good practices." In her speech, she said, "women in the Arab world and in China are very much alike. We share a lot of common values and common traditions; we can understand each other better, and we know what is needed in society and how we can make it better."

Milia Jabbour, Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to China

Mohamed Ghassan Shaikho, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to China, expressed gratitude to the ACWF for its invitation and mentioned the federation's achievements in the advancement of Chinese women's undertakings. He said participants to the women's forum discussed women's progress reached in their respective countries; they agreed friendly cooperation has been reached between China and Arab countries; and, they encouraged both sides to cooperate more, so women will be empowered to participate in politics, the economy, science and other sectors, and so China and Arab countries will be cooperative partners in the advancement of social progress and prosperity.

Mohamed Ghassan Shaikho, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to China

Hassane Rabehi, Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to China, said considering the figures mentioned in the speeches, women have taken part in activities in all sectors of society. "This forum provides good opportunities to exchange knowledge about women's positions, not only accessing what has been achieved in different fields, but also looking at the perspectives of cooperation between China and Arab countries. Chinese women have gained international awards in science and technology. We would like to take every opportunity to learn from their experiences and wisdom. This forum gives us opportunities to learn the good experiences of China in promoting the roles of women in different fields, and also to learn how we enhance women's roles in our society," Rabehi added.

Hassane Rabehi, Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to China

(Women of China English Monthly September issue)