As Beijing gears up to host a global summit on gender equality and women’s empowerment, Chinese authorities and non-governmental organisations have been engaging in discussions on issues ranging from traditional family values to the rights of women in the digital age.
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The summit is understood to be planned for some time in October, although details have yet to be announced.
The foreign ministry said on Monday that the event would take place “soon”, but did not elaborate.
Stressing that women’s rights in China had advanced greatly in the past decades, ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said: “In promoting gender equality and women’s all-round development, China is not only an advocate but also an active actor.”
Several international officials and organisations are expected to attend. However, domestic grass-roots NGOs were not likely to be invited unless they were sponsored by overseas entities, sources told the South China Morning Post.
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Two books by President Xi Jinping published earlier this month featured selected speeches and articles covering issues ranging from gender equality to traditional family values, and instructing China’s women’s federation not to become like Western feminist groups.