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 (NWCCW) under the State Council, met Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, on January 31 in Beijing.

Huang said Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, which dovetail the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Xi attaches great importance to women and children's development, and raised China's proposals and pledged China's actions during the important speeches he delivered when he attended, twice, the UN's events to commemorate the Fourth World Conference on Women (held in Beijing in 1995). We expect to enhance communications and cooperation with the UN, and to make contributions to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, to fulfill the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Huang noted.

She outlined the 13th National Women's Congress of China (held in October 2023), noting that Xi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended the congress' opening with Standing Committee Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Xi delivered an important speech during a talk with ACWF's new leadership, which provided guiding principles for women's cause and women's federations' work on a new journey and in the new era. Women's federations at all levels and numerous women and their families have been greatly inspired and encouraged by the Party's care. Huang also outlined Xi's discourses on the work related to women and children as well as the work of women's federations, and Xi's discourses on the importance of family, family education and virtues. Huang mentioned the achievements reached in the cause of women in the new era and ACWF's major work. In particular, she introduced the Spring Bud Project, which received the 2023 UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Prize for Girls' and Women's Education.

Francis highly appreciated the proposal by Xi on promoting women's all-round development, and he praised CPC's leadership. China, as an active advocate and powerful facilitator to the cause of women worldwide, has made remarkable achievements in developing women's undertakings, of which the good experience are worth sharing by the ACWF with other UN Member States, especially good practices on women's economic empowerment and on narrowing the gender-based digital divide. He said the UN is willing to work with China to promote gender equality and women's empowerment and to speed up the fulfillment of the 2030 SDGs.

After their meeting, Huang and Francis wrote calligraphies and drew paintings with children at the China National Children's Center (CNCC) to welcome the coming Chinese New Year.

Lin Yi, Vice-President and Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, relevant ACWF departments, the NWCCW Office and the CNCC, attended.

(Source: Liaison Department of the All-China Women's Federation)