Ahead of a global summit on women next week, China’s state media is projecting the country as a role model for its years of progress in promoting women’s rights, noting that other countries could benefit from its experience.
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The Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, co-hosted by China and UN Women, will be held on Monday and Tuesday in Beijing, with Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the opening ceremony and giving the keynote speech.
Dozens of heads of government, house speakers, vice-premiers and ministerial-level officials from several countries were expected to attend, according to Chinese authorities.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua has published a series of interviews with participating global leaders who commended China for its progress on women’s rights and said they looked forward to more cooperation.
Ing Kantha Phavi, the Cambodian minister for women’s affairs, called the coming event a “milestone” in pushing for the development of women’s affairs, adding that she was “impressed with the progress China made in empowering women”.
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“Chinese women ‘held up half the sky’, and their tenacity, creativity and leadership continue to impact the country’s development,” she said. “This not only brings a positive effect for Cambodia, but for the rest of the countries in the Global South as well.”
China had focused on gender equality, especially the leadership of women in digital technology, artificial intelligence and the sciences, she said, adding that it had been “deeply inspiring for Cambodia”.