Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation, addresses the opening ceremony of the Third Eurasian Women's Forum via video link on October 14, 2021. [For Women of China]

Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation, was invited to attend and address — via video link — the opening ceremony of the Third Eurasian Women's Forum on October 14, 2021. The forum was held in Russia.

During her speech, Shen said Chinese President Xi Jinping was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the plenary session of the Sixth Eastern Economic Forum on September 3. President Xi addressed via video link that at present, the international landscape is going through profound transformation, the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus disease) pandemic keeps raging with frequent flare-ups, and the world economy faces a daunting recovery. Xi stressed all parties should ground themselves in regional realities while adopting a global perspective, join hands to tide over the difficult time and plan for common development.

Shen noted women represent an important force in the fulfillment of global security and stable development and women play significant roles in the fight against COVID-19, poverty elimination and tackling worldwide challenges caused by climate change. She called on women from various countries in Europe and Asia to enhance anti-epidemic cooperation and advance the building of a community with a shared future in human sanitation and health care. She also proposed that women strengthen communication and mutual learning, promote overall development, unite and work together to achieve regional common development, and make joint efforts to build a harmonious and peaceful home for all.

Shen said this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Since its founding, the CPC has strived to achieve equality between men and women and has led hundreds of millions of women as they have liberated themselves, achieved self-development and lived beautiful lives. In particular, since the 18th CPC National Congress (held in 2012), the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi at its core, has attached great importance to the full play of women's roles in fulfilling their overall development and has safeguarded women's rights and interests. Women's participation abilities and their contributions to the country's development have been greatly improved; women's sense of gain, happiness and security has continuously been enhanced; and Chinese women's undertakings have reached historic progress, Shen added.

Shen noted Chinese women are willing to work with women from Eurasian countries to advance exchanges on gender equality and women's development, deepen cooperation in building the Belt and Road Initiative, shoulder the responsibilities of the era and create beautiful lives. She also said women will make joint efforts to achieve the goals set by the Beijing Platform for Action and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, as well as to speed up the building of a closer community with a shared future for mankind.

The theme of the Eurasian Women's Forum this year was: "Women: A Global Mission in a New Reality." Russian President Vladimir Putin attended and addressed the forum's opening ceremony. Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, presided over the forum. Distinguished guests who addressed the opening ceremony included Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Natalia Kochanova, Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress, and representatives in charge of women's affairs from multilateral cooperation mechanisms of W20, APEC and BRICS. The 1,000-plus participants from more than 100 countries also included women politicians, nongovernmental organizations' leaders, outstanding women from the business, science and culture sectors and international organizations' representatives.

The opening ceremony of the Third Eurasian Women's Forum is held in Russia on October 14, 2021. [For Women of China]

(Women of China)