Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), met Teresa Amarelle Boue, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, State Councilor of Cuba, and Secretary-General of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), via video link on January 17, 2023. Shen outlined the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the achievements made in Chinese women's undertakings. The two sides had an in-depth discussion on the implementation of the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and on measures to enhance women's friendship and cooperation.

Shen noted China and Cuba are good friends, good comrades and good brothers. Under the strategic leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, China and Cuba have maintained high-level relations, setting a good example of socialist countries' unity and cooperation and a good example of developing countries helping each other in sincerity. China is willing to work with Cuba to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, advance women's exchanges and mutual learning, expand practical cooperation, write a new chapter in Chinese and Cuban women's friendly relations, and build a China-Cuba community during the process of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Shen added.

When Shen outlined the 20th CPC National Congress (held in October 2022), she said the most important political achievement of the congress was the re-election of Xi as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, which fully reflected the common will of all Party members and people of all ethnic groups across China. The congress drew a magnificent blueprint for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects, and for advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

Shen said, since the 18th CPC National Congress was held in 2012, the CPC Central Committee, with comrade Xi at its core, has adhered to a people-centered philosophy of development, has implemented the basic State policy of gender equality, and has led Chinese women to make historic progress and achieve a historic transformation. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress affirmed, for the third time, that "remain committed to the fundamental national policy of gender equality and protect the lawful rights and interests of women and children" was written into CPC's administrative guidelines. Shen said the report made clear the integration of women and children's development has been included in the all-round development plan of the country, and that plan has provided fundamental and scientific guidance for carrying out work on women and children's causes in the new era, and it has outlined a promising future for millions of women, children and their families.

Boue thanked Shen for her introduction of the 20th CPC National Congress, and she congratulated China on the re-election of Xi as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Boue praised the glorious achievements China has made, under CPC's leadership, in all fields. She spoke of the progress in Chinese women's development, and said she hoped to make continuously contributions to deepening the traditional friendship between the two countries and to enhance communications and cooperation between women's organizations.

The two sides exchanged views on laws and policies to advance women's development and family building. Participants included: Lin Yi, Vice-President and Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF; Ma Hui, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba; representatives of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Osmayda Hernández, Member of the Secretariat of the FMC; and, representatives of the International Relations Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Cuban Embassy in China, and the Cuban People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

(Women of China English Monthly)