On Tuesday in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Icelandic President Halla Tomasdottir for the Global Leaders27 Meeting on Women. Against the backdrop of the Great Hall of the People, these two heads of state mapped out a shared vision for boosting gender equality, green technology and cultural exchange.
The summit, gathering trailblazers from across the globe, underscored how inclusive leadership can drive sustainable growth. For young professionals and entrepreneurs, the meeting highlighted new avenues for cross-border startup partnerships in clean energy and digital inclusion. Iceland, ranked No. 1 for gender parity by the World Economic Forum for over a decade, showcased best practices in female entrepreneurship, while China explored scalable models in smart manufacturing.
Data-driven insights reveal that women hold over 45% of ministerial roles in Iceland, compared with 24% in China. Both leaders agreed to launch a joint innovation fund to support women-led tech ventures in G20 nations, with an initial investment pool of $50 million.
President Tomasdottir remarked, "When women lead, communities flourish. Our collaboration will open doors for the next generation of global changemakers." President Xi added that fostering equality strengthens social cohesion and economic resilience.
Beyond policy, the two presidents committed to a cultural exchange program inviting young digital nomads and creatives to explore Iceland27s geothermal hubs and China27s innovation districts. This initiative aims to blend immersive travel with hands-on workshops in sustainability.
As the summit continues, all eyes are on how these commitments will translate into real-world impact—from boardrooms to research labs, and from startups to social enterprises.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
