In recent weeks, the Global Leaders Forum on Women took place in partnership with the UN Women in Beijing. The event was attended by several female leaders who advocated for greater female representation and was also a symbolic milestone, taking place three decades after the historic 1995 Conference. For China, the forum was an opportunity to reinforce its role in promoting gender equality, where President Xi Jinping took advantage of the meeting to defend the event’s objective, also announcing new international investments in the area.
Female representation in political power is still a challenge for China and the world
In his opening speech, Xi Jinping called on governments to expand channels for women’s participation in politics and decision-making, emphasizing that gender equality must be “truly internalized” by society.
“inclusive and harmonious social environment where women are free from discrimination and prejudice,” he added about the importance of creating a safe environment in the event.
The Chinese leader pledged $110 million to support initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment, including $10 million for UN Women and $100 million for the Fund for Global Development and South-South Cooperation, created by China in 2015.
Female empowerment and equality as key drivers of China’s modernization journey
The speech emphasizes the importance of offsetting a global deficit of underrepresentation in the women’s labor market. Xi stated that “in the journey of Chinese modernisation, every woman plays a leading role” and also cited some significant figures on this topic, such as the 80% reduction in maternal mortality since 1995 and the fact that women now represent over 40% of the country’s workforce.
Even so, there is still a long way to go. Despite progress on some general topics, the contrast with political reality is still stark and striking, as no women are members of the current Politburo Standing Committee — the Communist Party’s highest governing body — and the female presence in the National People’s Congress is less than 27%, clear indications that the country still has a long way to go to achieve parity.
Beijing seeks to project itself as a global voice for gender equality
By hosting the forum, China is seeking to establish itself as a global champion of women’s rights. The event was attended by leaders from countries such as Iceland, Ghana, and Sri Lanka, as well as international organizations, to discuss topics such as empowerment, technology, and combating gender-based violence.
In recent months, many universities and other state organizations have promoted debates on the importance of advancing female representation in Chinese society, highlighting the country’s progress on this topic and thereby conveying a narrative that the country has become a model of equality.
The event, of course, brings visibility to the issue and acts as an incentive to reduce gender inequalities both in China and globally, but the objective is also political. While women’s empowerment discourses are useful and important for increasing representation, they also function as a diplomatic tool, bringing China closer to global agendas valued by international partners.
Between social advances and cultural challenges
In recent years, the country has made significant progress in areas such as education and poverty reduction. Today, nearly half of China’s university students are women, and approximately 690 million women have been lifted out of poverty since the 1990s. But despite these figures, the country still has a male-dominated political reality and retains traditional values that associate women’s roles with family and motherhood only.
The Beijing forum was crucial for sparking debate on the role of women in politics and society. The question now is whether China and the rest of the world can turn promises into real, effective policies. After all, gender equality remains a collective goal that depends less on rhetoric and more on active action.