Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator Office in China, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony
date：2023-12-15 15:56:49 hits：
The 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum successfully convened in Sanya, Hainan from December 6-8. Co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the UN Resident Coordinator Office in China, and jointly organized by the People’s Government of Sanya City, the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, and the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Women’s Forum. Chen Xi, Mayor of the People’s Government of Sanya City, attended the opening ceremony of the forum and delivered a speech.
Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator Office in China, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in China, I would like to express my gratitude to all the guests present here today. I would also like to thank the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese for inviting the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office to co-host the 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the The People’s Government of Sanya City for their strong support in organizing this event.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, is a significant venture. Many UN agencies, funds, and programs have signed cooperation memorandums of understanding with the Chinese government to explore ways to leverage the initiative to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The fifth of SDGs is on gender equality. It can be argued that the realization of this goal is the pillar of the achieving of all 17 goals. It is said that educating a girl educates a family, a community, and a whole nation. Gender equality is beneficial not only for economic development but also for social development and is of great moral importance. Most critically, it is an integral part of our humanity as human beings. We know that the world’s progress is based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). We also know that half of the world's population is female and they represent half of the labor force. Progress cannot happen without their participation.
We must enable more women to integrate society and management at different stages and levels. There are many successful examples worldwide, such as in Rwanda, where over 60% of parliamentarians are women, and in the UAE, which excels in placing women in influential positions and allowing women to enter scientific research and other professions. Gender equality is a crucial part of the UN’s SDGs, and we look forward to seeing China play a bigger role in this area.
China has made a significant stride over the past 40 years by lifting over 750 million people out of absolute poverty. One reason is the empowerment of women, allowing them to join the labor force, thereby driving economic growth. At the microeconomic level of families, when both men and women work, it generates more disposable income, leading to better nutrition, better education, and better healthcare, and progressively higher human capital.
In addition, Forbes magazine published a list of the world's billionaires in 2020 with about 2,100 billionaires, of which about 240 are women. Among these women, almost half are Chinese. This demonstrates the capabilities and potential development prospects of Chinese women.
However, I believe this momentum needs to be sustained in all fields, whether in STEM, public policy, politics, or other areas, where women’s participation needs to continue to increase.
Specifically, I believe that action needs to be intensified in three areas:
First, we need firm political will at local, national, and global levels to push for gender equality more resolutely.
Second, the accurate public policies are needed to achieve this, which means gender-based budgets, gender-responsive programs, and more determined action.
Third, we need a Public Private Partnership. Government agencies, businesses, foundations, and all levels of society need to work in this direction to get more women into leadership positions and change the current male-dominated landscape.
In fact, from a male perspective, if we want to achieve this goal by 2030, I believe that now more than ever we need determined action, a change in our perceptions, a change in our ways of doing things, if we are to achieve this goal by 2030. As UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed once said, we need to "Flip the orthodoxy."
Therefore, I believe China is on the right path to promoting gender equality. The United Nations in China is committed to working with the Chinese government to continue making progress in this area. I also hope to see the Chinese government continue to push in this direction, becoming a global leader in this regard, and demonstrating more global leadership. The successful holding of this forum will also create the most valuable cooperative opportunities for the Belt and Road Initiative participating countries, further expanding its effectiveness.
I sincerely wish the 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum comprehensive success. I hope the forum brings more cooperation, more partnerships, better maintenance of multilateralism, and takes more measures to ensure we achieve the SDGs by 2030 and realize a vision of peace, greater prosperity, development, and people-to-people connectivity between different countries and peoples.
Finally, I once again thank the host, The People’s Government of Sanya City, for their invitation and support, bringing us together at this beautiful place where Where the Blue Sea Meets the Blue Sky，Where People Enjoy Endless Green. Thank you, Sanya, and best wishes to Sanya.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in China, I would like to express my gratitude to all the guests present here today. I would also like to thank the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese for inviting the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office to co-host the 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the The People’s Government of Sanya City for their strong support in organizing this event.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, is a significant venture. Many UN agencies, funds, and programs have signed cooperation memorandums of understanding with the Chinese government to explore ways to leverage the initiative to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The fifth of SDGs is on gender equality. It can be argued that the realization of this goal is the pillar of the achieving of all 17 goals. It is said that educating a girl educates a family, a community, and a whole nation. Gender equality is beneficial not only for economic development but also for social development and is of great moral importance. Most critically, it is an integral part of our humanity as human beings. We know that the world’s progress is based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). We also know that half of the world's population is female and they represent half of the labor force. Progress cannot happen without their participation.
We must enable more women to integrate society and management at different stages and levels. There are many successful examples worldwide, such as in Rwanda, where over 60% of parliamentarians are women, and in the UAE, which excels in placing women in influential positions and allowing women to enter scientific research and other professions. Gender equality is a crucial part of the UN’s SDGs, and we look forward to seeing China play a bigger role in this area.
China has made a significant stride over the past 40 years by lifting over 750 million people out of absolute poverty. One reason is the empowerment of women, allowing them to join the labor force, thereby driving economic growth. At the microeconomic level of families, when both men and women work, it generates more disposable income, leading to better nutrition, better education, and better healthcare, and progressively higher human capital.
In addition, Forbes magazine published a list of the world's billionaires in 2020 with about 2,100 billionaires, of which about 240 are women. Among these women, almost half are Chinese. This demonstrates the capabilities and potential development prospects of Chinese women.
However, I believe this momentum needs to be sustained in all fields, whether in STEM, public policy, politics, or other areas, where women’s participation needs to continue to increase.
Specifically, I believe that action needs to be intensified in three areas:
First, we need firm political will at local, national, and global levels to push for gender equality more resolutely.
Second, the accurate public policies are needed to achieve this, which means gender-based budgets, gender-responsive programs, and more determined action.
Third, we need a Public Private Partnership. Government agencies, businesses, foundations, and all levels of society need to work in this direction to get more women into leadership positions and change the current male-dominated landscape.
In fact, from a male perspective, if we want to achieve this goal by 2030, I believe that now more than ever we need determined action, a change in our perceptions, a change in our ways of doing things, if we are to achieve this goal by 2030. As UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed once said, we need to "Flip the orthodoxy."
Therefore, I believe China is on the right path to promoting gender equality. The United Nations in China is committed to working with the Chinese government to continue making progress in this area. I also hope to see the Chinese government continue to push in this direction, becoming a global leader in this regard, and demonstrating more global leadership. The successful holding of this forum will also create the most valuable cooperative opportunities for the Belt and Road Initiative participating countries, further expanding its effectiveness.
I sincerely wish the 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum comprehensive success. I hope the forum brings more cooperation, more partnerships, better maintenance of multilateralism, and takes more measures to ensure we achieve the SDGs by 2030 and realize a vision of peace, greater prosperity, development, and people-to-people connectivity between different countries and peoples.
Finally, I once again thank the host, The People’s Government of Sanya City, for their invitation and support, bringing us together at this beautiful place where Where the Blue Sea Meets the Blue Sky，Where People Enjoy Endless Green. Thank you, Sanya, and best wishes to Sanya.
The theme of the forum, ‘She Power: Jointly Building and Sharing a Beautiful Life,’ reflects a focus on women’s unique contributions and empowerment within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the All-China Youth Federation, along with the People’s Government of Sanya City leadership, the forum brought together over 400 participants. These included the First Lady of Guyana, representatives from the United Nations, Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine, and ambassadors from Kyrgyzstan, Zambia, Maldives, Switzerland, Nepal, Guyana, Uganda, Mozambique, and various other countries, along with national and international business representatives.
During the forum, in-depth discussions and exchanges took place around the theme. Guests shared insights on the distinctive role played by women in the ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched. They highlighted the substantial achievements of women and looked forward to the future of the initiative, advocating for women’s empowerment to foster common development and prosperity in human society.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Women’s Forum has been instrumental in showcasing the unique role of women in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting comprehensive and sustainable development for women, and enhancing people-to-people connections among the participating countries. The forum has successfully established a platform for communication and collaboration among women across the Belt and Road countries, building bridges for mutual understanding and cooperation.
During the forum, in-depth discussions and exchanges took place around the theme. Guests shared insights on the distinctive role played by women in the ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched. They highlighted the substantial achievements of women and looked forward to the future of the initiative, advocating for women’s empowerment to foster common development and prosperity in human society.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Women’s Forum has been instrumental in showcasing the unique role of women in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting comprehensive and sustainable development for women, and enhancing people-to-people connections among the participating countries. The forum has successfully established a platform for communication and collaboration among women across the Belt and Road countries, building bridges for mutual understanding and cooperation.