 |
Maria Gustava, Ambassador of Mozambique to China |
The upcoming Global Leaders' Meeting on Women will be an excellent opportunity for the world to reflect on progress achieved so far, to share experiences in gender equality and women's empowerment, and to come up with new, common measures that will address the persistent challenges, and reinvigorate global commitments, to gender issues.
During the past three decades, we have witnessed remarkable achievements in advancing women's rights, enhancing women's participation in socioeconomic development, and promoting women's leadership in various fields. I'm certain the upcoming meeting will galvanize international efforts to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which will foster greater solidarity and cooperation among nations.
Therefore, this meeting will not only commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, it will also highlight the need for more concrete actions for women's development. To achieve the goals, governments and all of society must unite in accelerating progress toward a more equitable and inclusive future for women and girls worldwide.
China has always been a strong advocate for women's rights, and we look forward to a productive meeting, which fosters international cooperation, shares best practices, and sets a renewed agenda for advancing gender equality. We hope the discussions will inspire actionable strategies to empower women in all spheres — economic, political and social — while addressing emerging issues, such as digital inclusion and climate resilience, from a gender perspective.
As Mozambique's ambassador, I also expect a renewed global commitment to gender equality, tailored solutions for Africa's context, and increased international support for empowering African women. Education, healthcare and economic empowerment are still some of the priorities to be addressed on the African continent.
Indeed, we expect the meeting to reinvigorate global commitment to gender equality, address emerging challenges and explore innovative solutions, to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.
Personally, I had the chance to witness the rapid changes and fast economic and social growth and prosperity of China during the last 14 years, as a regular visitor and as ambassador. Today, China, as the world's second-largest economy, has robust capacity to modernize its agriculture, industries and so on, by using innovative technologies and its human capacity.
I believe Chinese modernization, based on high-quality development through innovation, deep reforms and opening up, will improve and consolidate the achievements reached so far, improve the quality of lives of Chinese, integrate China's economy globally and contribute to global economic stability. Taking into account Chinese modernization is centered on the need of people and vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, mutual respect and gains, for sure this will contribute to the prosperity of developing countries.
Mozambique cooperates with China within the Belt and Road Initiative, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and Macao Forum frameworks, and these mechanisms embrace visions and joint projects and actions to advance modernization. Mozambique expects to contribute to and benefit from such projects.
Internally, China is making significant progress in promoting gender equality and women's rights, through implementation of laws and programs that can improve the economic and social status of women, including the establishment of national programs to promote women's rights in areas such as education, health and the economy. China has made progress in increasing women's participation in politics, and China has also achieved higher rates of women's participation in economic development, compared with the global average.
Internationally, China is working closely with other countries and international organizations to promote women's rights, to empower women and advance gender equality. In this context, China supports women's programs, including having donated US $10 million to UN Women, in 2015, for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, to help developing countries build health projects for women and children. During the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, in September 2024, China made a commitment to provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly to women and youth, to address the career-development concerns of African youth, and to cultivate a new generation of talent for Africa. Also, China is ready to strengthen collective efforts and cooperation to achieve gender equality and women's and girls' empowerment in China and Africa.
Photos from Interviewee
(Source: Women of China)
Editor: Wang Shasha
