A virtual dialogue aimed at advancing women's all-round development in China and the Bahamas was held on September 27, 2022. Huang Xiaowei, Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), and Vice-Chairperson of the National Working Committee on Children and Women, under the State Council, and Ann Marie Davis, wife of Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis, delivered speeches. Lin Yi, Vice-President and Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, presided over the event. Dai Qingli, Chinese Ambassador to the Bahamas, also spoke during the event. Representatives from various social organizations and the academic communities of the two countries participated online.

Huang said the event was significant in the occasion of commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic relations between China and the Bahamas. Development is a timeless theme for humanity. Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed the Global Development Initiative in the United Nations in 2021, putting development front and center on the international agenda and pointing out a direction for advancing global development undertakings and international development cooperation, Huang added.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held in 2012, the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi at its core, has applied a people-centered development philosophy, attached great importance to women's development, implemented the basic State policy of gender equality, and pushed forward women's undertakings to reach historic progress. The system of coordinated development between women, the economy and society has continuously been improved; women's rights and interests have been safeguarded more firmly; the enabling environment for women's development has been improved; and the cooperation on global women's issues has been strengthened. Huang noted the 20th CPC National Congress (held in October) would draw a magnificent blueprint for China's development in the future.

Huang hoped women from China and the Bahamas will make joint efforts and contribute women's strength to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and to create together an equal, inclusive, sustainable and promising future.

Mrs Davis spoke highly of China's achievements in economic and social development. She praised the four-point proposal raised by President Xi to advance women's all-round development and expressed gratitude to China for its valuable support to the Bahamas. She also thanked the ACWF for hosting such a dialogue, and for its precious support for women's development in the Bahamas. She expressed her willingness to deepen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation with the ACWF to promote women's all-round development.

During the event, the donation ceremony of anti-epidemic goods from the ACWF to the Bahamas was held, and Huang and Mrs Davis signed the handover certificate online. Experts and representatives from relevant organizations and institutions from both countries participated in several in-depth discussions, on topics such as women and education and women and health.

(Women of China English Monthly)