Xi: Protect rights of women

'China is prepared to do even more to support' global cause of gender equality

President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for redoubled efforts to promote gender equality and advance the global cause of women's development.

Xi made the remark in a video address at High-Level Meeting on the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women organized by the United Nations General Assembly.

He praised the contributions of female medical and epidemic control workers, researchers, community workers and volunteers throughout the world in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 and underlined the need to minimize the pandemic's impact on women.

"We also need to place the protection of women's and girls' rights and interests high on the agenda of both public health and economic reopening," he said. "In particular, we need to create more job opportunities for women and crack down on violations of women's rights and interests."

While stressing the need to strive for gender equality, Xi said protection of women's rights and interests must become a commitment at the national level.

"As we pursue post-COVID recovery, we may create new opportunities for women to participate in decision-making and become more involved in national, economic, cultural and social governance," he said, adding that efforts are needed to eliminate prejudice, discrimination and violence against women and make gender equality a social norm and moral imperative observed by all.

He called for fully leveraging the role of governments and mobilizing all of society to support women and help them live their lives to the fullest so that they can "advance at the forefront of our times".

Xi underscored the UN's key coordinating role in promoting women's development and said China supports the UN in making women's development a priority.

Noting the importance of enhancing global cooperation in boosting women's growth, Xi called for efforts to address new challenges, such as bridging the digital gender divide so as to make goals related to women early victories for the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

"China is prepared to do even more to support the global cause of women's development," Xi said, adding that the nation will donate another $10 million to the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in the coming five years to support the UN role in promoting women's development.

The country will continue to fund the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education to support this global effort, Xi said, adding that China also proposes the convening in 2025 of another Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment.