History Tells Us the Fate of Women Is Linked with That of All Mankind

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin [Women of China]

History tells us the fate of women is linked with that of all mankind. Women's status rises alongside the development of society, and the progress of the times. Full and equal participation by women in the fulfillment of the two major tasks of all countries, namely, peace and development, is indispensable. Only by involving themselves in maintaining peace and promoting development can women reach the goal of improving their status.

Peace is the most important prerequisite for the improvement of women's status. Without world peace and stability, any talk about improving women's status and guaranteeing their rights and interests would be out of the question. Eradicating poverty is an essential condition for the improvement of women's status. Poverty and lack of development have deprived many women of employment, healthcare and educational opportunities. For them, the right to equal participation in the political and economic life of the State can only be an elusive luxury. To become true masters of their lives, and to control their own destinies, women need to enjoy equal status, not only politically, but also economically.

The Chinese Government has always regarded gender equality as an important measurement of civility. Chinese women have become masters of the State and society since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Attaching great importance to the development and advancement of women, we, in China, have made gender equality a basic State policy in promoting social development.

We are resolutely opposed to any form of discrimination against women, and we have taken concrete steps to maintain and protect the equal status and rights of women in the country's political, economic and social life. As a populous country, China has taken upon itself the heavy responsibility of improving the status of a quarter of the world's women. We will continue to work hard, and we will make further contributions to the advancement of global women's cause.

— Then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin made the above comments during the Fourth World Conference on Women, on September 4, 1995.

(Women of China)