Writing a New Chapter for Global Women’s Development – President Xi Jinping’s Keynote Speech at the Global Women’s Summit Opening Ceremony Injects Confidence and Momentum into Accelerating Women’s Comprehensive Development
On the morning of October 13, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Global Women’s Summit at the Beijing National Convention Center and delivered a keynote speech titled “Carry Forward the Spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women and Accelerate the New Process of Women’s Comprehensive Development.” The speech comprehensively reviewed the achievements in global women’s development over the past 30 years and the historic changes in China’s women’s development, analyzed the challenges facing global women’s development, and elaborated China’s propositions and contributions to accelerating the new process of women’s comprehensive development.
Participants from China and abroad stated that President Xi’s keynote speech reflects the common aspiration of people worldwide for gender equality and women’s comprehensive development, and for building a peaceful, secure, prosperous, progressive, and better world. It injects powerful momentum into accelerating the new process of women’s comprehensive development and is destined to establish a new milestone in the history of the international women’s movement.
Building Consensus on Global Women’s Development
“Today, I am delighted to gather with friends in Beijing as scheduled to jointly commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women and discuss major plans for promoting global women’s development,” President Xi stated directly in his opening remarks. Thirty years ago, Beijing witnessed the determination of women worldwide to pursue equality. Thirty years later, various parties gathered to discuss major plans for global women’s development.
“Thirty years ago, the world sent an unmistakable and unwavering message in Beijing. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action have illuminated the path forward for countless women and girls,” expressed a UN representative at the opening ceremony, adding appreciation for President Xi’s emphasis on carrying forward the spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women, reminding all parties to implement the promotion of women’s development in practical terms.
A European leader stated that the reconvening of the Global Women’s Summit under President Xi’s proposal is timely. “In today’s world full of uncertainty and conflict, gender equality is by no means a luxury but a necessity. It is the cornerstone of peace, the driving force of innovation, and the key to building a livable world.”
A Chinese professor listened attentively to President Xi’s keynote speech with great excitement. She said: “As President Xi pointed out, women are important creators, promoters, and inheritors of human civilization. Promoting women’s development is the common responsibility of the international community. With the theme ‘Shared Destiny: Accelerating the New Process of Women’s Comprehensive Development,’ this summit once again conveys to the world a strong message promoting gender equality and empowering women’s development.”
President Xi noted in his keynote speech that over the past 30 years, guided by the spirit of the Beijing World Conference on Women, global women’s development has flourished, adding brilliant colors to the progress of human civilization. An African leader deeply resonated with this view, believing that convening the Global Women’s Summit holds milestone significance, demonstrating China’s global leadership in promoting and protecting human rights development and its important role in advancing women’s status, inspiring the international community to continue the journey of women’s empowerment and liberation.
Supporting Comprehensive Women’s Development
“Jointly create a favorable environment for women’s growth and development,” “jointly cultivate strong momentum for high-quality development of women’s causes,” “jointly build a governance structure that safeguards women’s rights,” and “jointly write a new chapter in promoting global women’s cooperation” – President Xi put forward four proposals in his keynote speech to revisit the original aspirations of the Beijing World Conference on Women and accelerate the new process of women’s comprehensive development, promoting more solid steps in global women’s development.
“The important proposals put forward by President Xi demonstrate advanced ideological connotations and receive support from our nation,” stated an Asian leader, emphasizing that ensuring every woman has the opportunity to strive, realize her value, and participate in shaping the future of the country and the world is a sacred responsibility borne by all parties. The leader also called for practical cross-border actions and policy implementation to jointly advance this goal into reality.
A Chinese educator stated that only in a peaceful and secure environment can women’s rights be fundamentally guaranteed; only through participation in various social development endeavors can women’s empowerment become more than empty words; and only through strengthened governance reforms can women’s empowerment have a sustainable development foundation. “As an educator, I firmly believe that talent is the primary resource. Only by steadily advancing the cultivation of women’s talents and enabling more outstanding women to engage in social undertakings and enhance leadership can gender equality and women’s empowerment be fundamentally achieved.”
A Chinese academic expressed that President
