Beijing buzzed with anticipation as the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women kicked off on Monday. President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech reaffirming China's commitment to gender equality and women's development both at home and abroad.
In his address, Xi emphasized that women are central to building and sustaining civilization. He highlighted how multi-dimensional efforts—from policy reforms to social innovations—have fueled progress over the past decade.
According to a recent white paper, women now make up around 43 percent of China's employed workforce and 45.8 percent of its scientific and technical personnel. Nearly 30 percent of workers in emerging sectors are women, signaling a shift toward inclusive economic growth.
On the health front, maternal mortality has plummeted by almost 80 percent since 1995, dropping from 61.9 deaths per 100,000 births to 14.3. Xi noted that this improvement reflects decades of targeted healthcare reforms.
China's anti-poverty drive also delivered historic results: some 690 million women have moved out of poverty, helping the nation achieve the first UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goal—No poverty—ahead of schedule.
As the meeting continues, observers say China's data-driven model and international collaborations could offer fresh perspectives for global gender equality efforts.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
