Project supports women in post-epidemic economy recovery

The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and UN Women launched a project in support of women in post-epidemic economy recovery in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province, on September 16, 2021. It was a part of the events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations.

Xia Jie, vice-president and member of the secretariat of the ACWF, and Sarah Knibbs, deputy director a.i. of the UN Women Asia-Pacific Office, spoke during the ceremony to launch the project. Zhang Shu, deputy secretary of Wuhan Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), welcomed participants to the event. Li Shuyong, president of Hubei Women's Federation, Jia Xuena, Vice-President of Tianjin Women's Federation, and Wang Peipei, secretary-general of Rongcheng Puji Foundation, also spoke during the event. More than 100 participants, including representatives from the UN Women Office in China, departments of Hubei provincial and Wuhan municipal governments, social organizations and women business start-ups, attended.

Xia said this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, so launching the project is a significant event. Throughout the years, China has supported and participated in UN's work regarding women's issues, Xia said. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended and addressed the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (in 2015) and the High-level Meeting on the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women (in 2020), pointing out a direction for advancing women's overall development and deepening cooperation with UN in women's issues, she added.

The ACWF will strengthen communications and cooperation with UN Women and women's organizations of various countries, help women overcome the impacts of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), accumulate good practices on economic development, and make new contributions to fulfilling gender equality and women's overall development and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xia said.

Knibbs praised China for its continuous support of the UN and its work in women's issues. She said UN Women will enhance its communication and cooperation with the Chinese Government and the ACWF, and will make joint efforts to promote women's participation in the fight against COVID-19 and in achieving global economic and social progress. UN Women will also play its role in the fulfillment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, Knibbs added.

Participants listened to the sharing of Wuhan's good practices on helping women confront the impacts of COVID-19 and take part in economic development. Xia communicated with women entrepreneurs after the event. She said she approved of the achievements they had made and she encouraged them to participate in entrepreneurship and innovation progress, make new contributions to the achievement of high-quality development and the fulfillment of Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of Chinese nation.