Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan Urges Promotion of Women's Complete Development at China-Africa Women's Forum

In a compelling video presentation delivered at the China-Africa Women's Forum, Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls' and Women's Education, emphasized the need for the promotion of women's complete development. The conference, organized by the All-China Women's Federation and the Hunan government, commenced on 29^th June 2023, in Changsha, Hunan, central China.

Peng highlighted the pivotal role women play in strengthening the China-Africa relationship, emphasizing the shared future between the two regions. She praised the active involvement of Chinese women in various African countries, including participation in medical teams, peacekeeping operations, infrastructure development projects, and technical training initiatives.

As part of the third China-Africa Economic and Commerce Expo, the inaugural China-Africa Women's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exhibition is being held to showcase recent achievements by women in fields such as poverty eradication, charitable giving, business and commerce, culture and education, and other cooperative endeavors.

Peng also acknowledged the significant contribution of Chinese scientist Tu Youyou, who discovered artemisinin, a breakthrough in the treatment of malaria. The utilization of artemisinin-based combination therapies as recommended by the World Health Organization has saved millions of lives in Africa, with a reduction of malaria mortality rates by 66 percent overall and 71 percent among children under five.

The advancement of women's causes holds high importance in China, according to Peng. She highlighted China's efforts in improving legal protections for women's rights and interests, providing enhanced educational opportunities, fostering female entrepreneurship and creativity, and delivering better healthcare for women and children. China secured the top spot out of 146 nations in tertiary enrollment, achieving gender equality with a perfect score of 1.00 in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2023.

China's commitment to women's rights is underscored by a comprehensive legal system consisting of over 100 laws and regulations safeguarding women and children's rights and interests. The recently amended Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women, which came into effect on January 1, 2023, places a greater emphasis on advancing gender equality and prohibiting all forms of discrimination against women.

Peng praised African nations for their efforts in improving the living and working conditions for women, reducing poverty, and promoting women's participation in governance. She emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration in overcoming obstacles to women's growth. Peng reaffirmed her commitment to the ideals of the Beijing World Conference on Women and the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. She called for support from all sectors to advance women's full development and foster a shared future between China and Africa.