Huang Xiaowei, head of the Chinese delegation to the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), and Vice-Chairperson of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, met Sima Sami Bahous, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, on the sidelines of CSW68, which was held in New York in March 2024. Huang and Bahous exchanged views on the advancement of gender equality, women's all-round development, and measures to implement the Global Development Initiative.

Huang noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping raised China's proposals during the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (in 2015), and the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (in 2020), injecting confidence and strength into global women's development. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese Government attach great importance to women's work. Chinese women's undertakings have achieved high-quality development, and numerous Chinese women shoulder their responsibilities, actively play their roles as "half the sky," and contribute their wisdom and strength to the Chinese path to modernization, Huang added.

China appreciates UN Women's contributions to promoting women's development, and will continue supporting UN Women's work in implementing the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China expects to enhance communications with UN Women in planning event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women (held in Beijing in 1995), to deepen cooperation on global women's cause and to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Huang explained.

Bahous spoke highly of the proposals and initiatives raised by President Xi, and said the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in 2015 was a successful model of China-UN Women cooperation. China's experience to advance women's poverty reduction, education, employment and entrepreneurship are worth sharing with developing countries. UN Women will make efforts with China to hold the event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing+30), Bahous added.

Following their meeting, Bahous posted message on social-media platform, in which she expressed her gratitude for China's efforts to promote gender equality and women's all-round development, as well as for China's continuous support for global actions in this regard. Bahous said she expects China will play a leading role in the process of Beijing+30.

(Source: Publicity Department of the All-China Women's Federation)