He Dan, Member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, Member of the Committee on Population, Resources and Environment, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech
date：2023-12-19 11:17:40 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. He Dan, Member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, Member of the Committee on Population, Resources and Environment, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech
He Dan, Member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, Member of the Committee on Population, Resources and Environment, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech
Honorable Vice Chairman Li Xikui, distinguished guests, and friends, good morning to all!
I am truly honored to be invited to this forum and to share with you some insights on population development and women’s advancement. The world is currently undergoing a major transformation, a shift that is also reflected in global population trends. In 2022, the global population reached 8 billion. China’s population development has entered a new normal, characterized by a decline in population growth, aging, and regional demographic shifts. President Xi Jinping has noted that dealing with a large population is a distinctive feature of China’s modernization. He has emphasized the need to support Chinese-style modernization with high-quality population development. This requires us not only to focus on population numbers but also to prioritize education, health, employment, and other areas, closely linking population development with high-quality living for the people and promoting comprehensive human development and common prosperity for all.
Among the many issues in population development, the response to low fertility is crucial. The empowerment of women, conducive to raising fertility levels, profoundly influences and transforms the socio-economic development process and family life. Gender equality is a fundamental state policy in China. The country has established a comprehensive legal system to protect women’s rights, including over 100 laws and regulations. Women’s political and economic status has improved significantly, and their educational level has markedly increased.
Currently, women comprise over forty percent of the global workforce, and more than half of the entrepreneurs in the IT sector are women. China has virtually eliminated gender disparity in compulsory education, and female enrollment rates in higher education have surpassed those of males.
Chinese women have played a ‘Women hold up half the sky’ role and made significant contributions to China’s socio-economic development. Last year, the World Economic Development Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report indicated a slowdown in global gender equality progress. While the gender gap in education has narrowed further, gender equality in the labor market and other areas remains a concern.
China’s women’s development has achieved remarkable success, but there are still significant opportunities for improvement in labor and economic participation. Several issues require close attention:
1. The decline in women’s labor participation rate. Chinese women, among the world’s most industrious, have consistently led in labor participation. However, career interruptions due to childbirth are prominent.
2. Employment discrimination persists, with issues like not granting maternity leave.
3. Balancing family and personal development is challenging, particularly for families with multiple children. Addressing women’s challenges in childbirth, child-rearing, education, and career development is vital for fulfilling families’ fertility wishes, thereby promoting family harmony and comprehensive intelligent development of the people.
In the new normal of China’s population, further empowering women and tapping into the gender dividend is crucial for a high-quality population and economic development. As a think tank in the field of population and development, we are keenly focused on gender equality:
1. Actively promoting policies that support women’s employment, enhancing vocational training for women re-entering the workforce post-childbirth, and strengthening supervision against employment gender discrimination.
2. Advocating a combination of modern civilization concepts with traditional Chinese culture, establishing a new family culture of equality, intergenerational harmony, and shared responsibilities.
3. Promoting reforms in maternity insurance and childcare systems and establishing cost-sharing mechanisms.
4. Advocating for maternal and child health, reproductive health, and accelerating the provision of inclusive childcare.
5. Encouraging exchanges in women’s development and population areas among Belt and Road countries.
Ladies and gentlemen, promoting gender equality is a long-term endeavor requiring the collective effort of all societal sectors and international cooperation and exchange. We believe that unlocking the power of gender equality will open up infinite possibilities for the world. Only when women, who make up half of the world’s population, fully integrate into the global development tide, can we usher in a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.
Thank you all!
I am truly honored to be invited to this forum and to share with you some insights on population development and women’s advancement. The world is currently undergoing a major transformation, a shift that is also reflected in global population trends. In 2022, the global population reached 8 billion. China’s population development has entered a new normal, characterized by a decline in population growth, aging, and regional demographic shifts. President Xi Jinping has noted that dealing with a large population is a distinctive feature of China’s modernization. He has emphasized the need to support Chinese-style modernization with high-quality population development. This requires us not only to focus on population numbers but also to prioritize education, health, employment, and other areas, closely linking population development with high-quality living for the people and promoting comprehensive human development and common prosperity for all.
Among the many issues in population development, the response to low fertility is crucial. The empowerment of women, conducive to raising fertility levels, profoundly influences and transforms the socio-economic development process and family life. Gender equality is a fundamental state policy in China. The country has established a comprehensive legal system to protect women’s rights, including over 100 laws and regulations. Women’s political and economic status has improved significantly, and their educational level has markedly increased.
Currently, women comprise over forty percent of the global workforce, and more than half of the entrepreneurs in the IT sector are women. China has virtually eliminated gender disparity in compulsory education, and female enrollment rates in higher education have surpassed those of males.
Chinese women have played a ‘Women hold up half the sky’ role and made significant contributions to China’s socio-economic development. Last year, the World Economic Development Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report indicated a slowdown in global gender equality progress. While the gender gap in education has narrowed further, gender equality in the labor market and other areas remains a concern.
China’s women’s development has achieved remarkable success, but there are still significant opportunities for improvement in labor and economic participation. Several issues require close attention:
1. The decline in women’s labor participation rate. Chinese women, among the world’s most industrious, have consistently led in labor participation. However, career interruptions due to childbirth are prominent.
2. Employment discrimination persists, with issues like not granting maternity leave.
3. Balancing family and personal development is challenging, particularly for families with multiple children. Addressing women’s challenges in childbirth, child-rearing, education, and career development is vital for fulfilling families’ fertility wishes, thereby promoting family harmony and comprehensive intelligent development of the people.
In the new normal of China’s population, further empowering women and tapping into the gender dividend is crucial for a high-quality population and economic development. As a think tank in the field of population and development, we are keenly focused on gender equality:
1. Actively promoting policies that support women’s employment, enhancing vocational training for women re-entering the workforce post-childbirth, and strengthening supervision against employment gender discrimination.
2. Advocating a combination of modern civilization concepts with traditional Chinese culture, establishing a new family culture of equality, intergenerational harmony, and shared responsibilities.
3. Promoting reforms in maternity insurance and childcare systems and establishing cost-sharing mechanisms.
4. Advocating for maternal and child health, reproductive health, and accelerating the provision of inclusive childcare.
5. Encouraging exchanges in women’s development and population areas among Belt and Road countries.
Ladies and gentlemen, promoting gender equality is a long-term endeavor requiring the collective effort of all societal sectors and international cooperation and exchange. We believe that unlocking the power of gender equality will open up infinite possibilities for the world. Only when women, who make up half of the world’s population, fully integrate into the global development tide, can we usher in a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.
Thank you all!
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.