Address to the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women

(1 October 2020, Beijing)

the People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping

On October 1, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech via video at the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Peng

Mr. Chairman,

Dear colleagues:

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women to promote gender equality and promote the development of global women's cause. I am pleased with this and wish this high-level meeting a complete success.

Women are the pioneers of human civilization and the promoters of social progress, and they have written extraordinary achievements in all walks of life. We are fighting the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, and the vast number of female medical personnel, disease control personnel, scientific and technological personnel, community workers, volunteers, etc. are fighting day and night, sticking to the front line of epidemic prevention and control, and writing magnificent poems to protect and save lives with diligence and wisdom. We want to praise them.

In the most critical moment of China's fight against the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, 2/3 of the more than 40000 health care workers from all over China who rushed to Hubei to help are women. There is a young nurse from Guangdong Province who is under 20 years old. The reporter asked her, you are still a child and need help. She replied that I wouldn't be a child if I put on protective clothing. This dialogue touched the whole of China! It is thousands of such Chinese women, in white, who go retrograde, interpret the benevolence of doctors with courage and hard work, and exchange their responsibility and dedication for the integrity of the mountains and rivers.

Mr. Chairman!

Over the past 25 years, the spirit of the World Conference on Women in Beijing has been generating positive changes. The social status of women has improved significantly, and the role of "half the sky" has become increasingly prominent. Gender equality and women's empowerment have become important goals of the "United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The neo-coronary pneumonia epidemic is also spreading around the world, with a serious impact on the production, employment and livelihood of all countries, and women face even greater challenges. As Secretary-General Guterres has said, the gains made in the field of gender equality over the past few decades are at risk of being reversed. In our efforts to combat the epidemic and promote economic and social recovery, we should pay particular attention to the special needs of women and implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. China asserts that:

First, to help women get rid of the impact of the epidemic. Attention should be paid to the physical health, psychosocial needs and working environment of frontline female medical workers. We should put the protection of the rights and interests of women and girls in an important position in public health and resumption of work and production plans, especially to broaden women's employment channels and combat violations of women's rights and interests. We should strengthen social services, give priority to the protection of pregnant women, children and other special groups, pay special attention to poor women, elderly women, disabled women and other disadvantaged groups, and do good, difficult and practical things for them.

Second, make gender equality a reality. The epidemic has brought unprecedented challenges and opportunities for deep reflection and reshaping the future. The development of the world needs to enter a more equal, inclusive and sustainable track, and the cause of women is an important yardstick to measure. The protection of women's rights and interests must be elevated to the will of the State. We should take the post-epidemic recovery as an opportunity to provide new opportunities for women's political participation and improve women's participation in the management of national and economic, cultural and social affairs. We must eliminate prejudice, discrimination, and violence against women, and make gender equality truly a common code of conduct and value standard for the whole society.

Third, to promote women in the forefront of the times. Today in the 21st century, creating a better life is inseparable from the overall progress of women's cause, and it also requires women to contribute greater wisdom and strength. We must persist in protecting women's rights and interests in development, improve women's livelihood through development, and achieve simultaneous development of women's undertakings and economic and social development. We must remove obstacles, create an environment, maximize the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of women, and enhance their sense of gain, happiness, and security. We should give full play to the role of the government, mobilize social forces, and support and help women enjoy a brilliant life.

Fourth, strengthen global cooperation in the cause of women. The development of women's cause cannot be separated from a peaceful and tranquil international environment, cannot be separated from sustainable development, and cannot be separated from the important coordinating role of the United Nations. We support the United Nations in giving priority to women's work, increasing investment in eliminating old problems such as violence, discrimination and poverty, and making a difference in addressing new challenges such as the gender digital divide, so as to make the women's goal an early harvest of the 2030 agenda. We also support the increased representation of women in the United Nations system. UN Women should enrich the gender equality toolbox and improve the global women's development roadmap.

Colleagues!

Equality between men and women is China's basic national policy. China has established a legal system for the comprehensive protection of women's rights and interests, including more than 100 laws and regulations. It has been listed by the World Health Organization as one of the 10 countries with high performance in maternal and child health. The gender gap in compulsory education has been basically eliminated. More than 40%, and more than half of Internet entrepreneurs are women.

Five years ago, I initiated the Global Women's Summit and put forward a series of global cooperation initiatives, which have been fully implemented. We will continue to increase our support for the global cause of women. In the next five years, China will provide another $10 million to UN Women. China will continue to establish the China-UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education to support the global cause of girls' and women's education. China proposes to hold another global women's summit in 2025.

Mr. Chairman!

There is still a long way to go to build a world where women are free from discrimination and build an inclusive society, and greater efforts are needed. Let us continue to work together to accelerate the realization of gender equality and promote the development of global women's cause.

Thank you.