Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday proposed a four-point plan aimed at accelerating women’s all-round development, emphasizing the importance of peace, inclusiveness, and global cooperation in promoting gender equality. Addressing the opening ceremony of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, Xi said that while significant progress has been made, women’s advancement still faces “complex challenges” that require collective action and renewed international commitment.
Xi said the proposals were introduced to “build a wider consensus, open up broader pathways, and take more practical actions” to promote women’s empowerment worldwide. His four-point plan focuses on creating an enabling environment for women’s growth, driving high-quality development, strengthening governance and protection, and enhancing global cooperation.
The first proposal centers on fostering an enabling environment for women’s growth and development. Xi stressed that peace and stability are fundamental to women’s progress, noting that “their all-round development is achieved under the prerequisite of peace and tranquility.” He called for greater efforts to protect women and girls in regions affected by war, conflict, poverty, and natural disasters. Xi also urged the global community to enhance mechanisms against gender-based violence and take firm measures to eliminate all forms of abuse and exploitation targeting women.
In his second proposal, Xi emphasized the need to cultivate powerful momentum for the high-quality development of women’s cause. He called for addressing the imbalance and inadequacy of women’s development worldwide to ensure that all women share the benefits of economic globalization. Highlighting the importance of innovation, Xi urged the use of science and technology to empower women and promote their participation in sustainable and green development initiatives.
The third proposal focused on improving governance frameworks to protect women’s rights and interests. Xi advocated for strengthening institutions, laws, and policies that safeguard women’s welfare and ensure tangible, accessible support in areas such as healthcare and education. He emphasized the need to promote an inclusive and harmonious social environment free from discrimination and bias, while also encouraging women’s broader participation in political, economic, and social governance. “It is vital to set women free from prejudice and empower them to take part in decision-making processes,” Xi said.
In his fourth and final proposal, Xi called for writing a new chapter in global cooperation on women’s development. He urged the international community to support women’s active participation in global governance and ensure they share equally in its benefits. Xi reaffirmed China’s support for the United Nations in playing a central role in this effort, calling on the UN to pay closer attention to the needs of women in developing countries and to create broader cooperation platforms that bring together women from all nations.
Concluding his remarks, Xi underscored the importance of nurturing a culture of respect for women and embedding gender equality as a fundamental social norm. “We must turn gender equality into a code of conduct embraced by everyone in society,” he said.
The Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women brought together heads of state, government officials, and representatives from international organizations to discuss strategies for advancing women’s rights and achieving gender equality. Xi’s proposals are expected to serve as a framework for future cooperation and policymaking in support of women’s empowerment across the globe.
