The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Women opened in Qingdao, in East China's Shandong Province, on September 11. Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin, also President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), read a congratulatory letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and addressed the forum's opening ceremony.

In her remarks, Shen said the congratulatory letter from President Xi set the direction for and injected great impetus into women's exchanges and the common progress of SCO countries. Guided by Xi's letter, China will make joint efforts with SCO members to implement the consensus reached by heads of state during the SCO Astana Summit (held in July 2024), to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, deepen women's exchanges and cooperation, continue to pool women's strength to make greater contributions to women's development, and to advance the building of an even closer SCO community of a shared future, Shen noted.

Focusing on scientific and technological innovation, and the development of women's causes via digital empowerment, the SCO Forum on Women in Qingdao was a significant event in promoting the widespread adoption of digital skills, the equal opportunities and friendly environment created by digital skills, and the delivering of greater benefits to women in SCO countries, Shen added.

Distinguished guests who addressed the opening ceremony included: Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Vice-President of Iran; Makhkamova Zulaykho Bakhriddinovna, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan; Men Sam An, Vice-President of the Cambodian People's Party and Member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King, Cambodia; Anna Hakobyan, Spouse of the Prime Minister of Armenia; and, Zhang Ming, SCO Secretary-General. They highly appreciated Xi's congratulatory letter, which acknowledged China's responsibility as a major country to deepen exchanges and mutual learning and to enhance women's development.

The dignitaries agreed SCO countries should consolidate unity and cooperation, work together to deal with new challenges caused by the gender-based gap in the digital field, continue promoting women's all-round development, and jointly build a better SCO family, which is united, harmonious, peaceful and prosperous.

Huang Xiaowei, Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, presided over the ceremony. She expressed a determination to implement the spirit of President Xi's letter, give full play to the amity and people-to-people interconnectivity among various countries, forge closer ties through women's and people-to-people exchanges, and to build a more promising future.

Zhou Naixiang, Governor of Shandong Province, Li Hui, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs, and Cui Li, Vice-President of the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (GNFCC SCO), also addressed the ceremony. More than 150 participants — including officials from SCO countries, diplomats, heads of institutions on women's affairs, experts and scholars, and media representatives — attended.

Prior to the opening ceremony, Shen met Behrouz-Azar, Makhkamova, Men Sam An, and Hakobyan, respectively. 

The SCO Forum on Women was hosted by the ACWF, the GNFCC SCO, the People's Government of Shandong Province, and the SCO Secretariat. During the forum, participants visited local projects involving women's and children's issues, and a women's arts and crafts exhibition.

(Source: Women Voice)

Editor: Ye Shan