Online Reporter
Kuda Bwititi in BEIJING, China
THE two-day Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women began in Beijing today, with Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Monica Mutsvangwa representing Zimbabwe.
Several Heads of State and dignitaries from around the world are attending the conference, and China’s President Xi Jinping delivered the keynote address this morning.
In an interview with CGTN on the sidelines of the event, Minister Mutsvangwa commended China for supporting and uplifting women.
“China has done a lot to uplift and empower women. I saw it myself. I lived in Beijing for four years as a diplomat, and I saw the work that the People’s Republic of China is doing to pull women and girls out of poverty.”
In his remarks, President Xi said, “Five years ago, I proposed another global leaders’ meeting on women. Today, I am very pleased that we are having this gathering in Beijing to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and discussing ways to promote the global women’s cause.
“Women play an important role in creating, promoting and carrying forward human civilisation and the international community has a shared responsibility to advance the cause of women.”
In 1995, China played an influential role in women’s empowerment after it hosted the World Conference on Women that adopted the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which embodies the commitment of the international community to achieve gender equality and to provide better opportunities for women and girls.
