ACWF President Meets with UN Women Chief

Shen Yueyue (R2) holds a meeting with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in Beijing on December 12. [Women of China / Fan Wenjun]

Shen Yueyue, President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), held a meeting with Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in Beijing on December 12.

At the meeting, Shen, who is also Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, highly commended the important role played by the UN and UN Women.

Shen said the four-point proposals on promoting gender equality and women's all-round development worldwide, made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment which was hosted by China and UN Women in 2015, have produced positive and far-reaching influences across the world.

Leaders from many countries have worked to honor the commitments made at the global meeting over the past few years, which resulted in prominent progress in the promotion of women's development.

Shen explained that China is willing to strengthen its exchanges and cooperation with UN Women to achieve greater progress in implementing the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and urge all countries to follow the commitments made at the global meeting. China also hopes to serve the Belt and Road initiative (BRI), help women worldwide make a larger stride in their all-round development; and, build a better world for women and for all.

Shen explained that under the firm leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China has made comprehensive and groundbreaking achievements and undergone underlying and fundamental changes during the past several years.

The important discourses outlined by Xi on women and women's affairs have provided fundamental guidance to the innovative development of the work on women's development in the new era, Shen noted. China has reached a new height when it comes to women's all-round development.

Shen emphasized that millions of Chinese women have closely united themselves around the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core, followed the call of the Party, and strove for the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation as well as the Two Centenary Goals.

Moreover, she spoke about the concrete measures and noticeable achievements made by the country and its women's federations in the implementation of Xi's four-point proposals.

For her part, Mlambo-Ngcuka extended warm congratulations to Shen for her election as ACWF's president at the 12th National Women's Congress of China and the success of the major congress.

Mlambo-Ngcuka praised the support made by Xi and the Chinese government to women's causes, and emphasized the great significance of Xi's proposals at the global meeting to the all-round development of women worldwide.

Mlambo-Ngcuka commended the outstanding achievements made by China in the development of women's affairs and said the international community and other countries should follow and draw inspiration from China's experience in the advancement of women's development.

Mlambo-Ngcuka said UN Women is willing to deepen its cooperation with China and work together to promote the joint and all-round development of women worldwide.

The same day, Huang Xiaowei, Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, also met with Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Huang gave an introduction on the progress made by the ACWF under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core in the promotion of women's entrepreneurship and innovation, the building of family-oriented affairs, the protection of women's rights and interests, and the advancement of the BRI.

Huang emphasized that every woman has her own opportunity to realize her personal dreams just as the Chinese people have been in the pursuit of a better future.

In addition, Huang and Mlambo-Ngcuka exchanged views on further promoting women's development and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Mlambo-Ngcuka was visiting China at the invitation of the ACWF.

Xia Jie, Vice-President and Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, also attended the meeting.

Shen Yueyue (R) shakes hands with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in Beijing on December 12. [Women of China / Fan Wenjun]

Officials from both sides attend the meeting on December 12. [Women of China / Fan Wenjun]

(Source: China Women's News / Translated and edited by Women of China)