Interview: Global Leaders' Meeting on Women highlights China's role in advancing gender equality, says Cabo Verde diplomat

GENEVA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing has highlighted China's role as a major force in driving global gender equality, a senior diplomat of Cabo Verde has said.

"In a time of multiple global challenges, from armed conflicts to climate crises and persistent gender inequality, this year's Global Leaders' Meeting on Women carries renewed significance," said Clara Delgado Jesus, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to Switzerland, who also serves as the co-chair of the WTO Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender.

The just-concluded meeting is a timely reminder that we must move forward together with innovative solutions and accelerated action to ensure women's full and equal development, said the ambassador.

It also offered a platform for high-level political coordination, where commitments can be turned into policies and tangible results, she said, adding that the meeting reaffirmed the value of international cooperation as a critical tool to overcome the barriers women still face globally.

Delgado Jesus recalled her attendance at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, which also marked her first visit to China.

"I vividly remember the energy, the determination, and the shared commitment from leaders, organizations and civil society," she said.

She hailed the 1995 conference as "a historic milestone" that shaped the global agenda for gender equality and women's empowerment. "The adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was truly groundbreaking," she said.

Thirty years later, Delgado Jesus had the opportunity to return to China for a seminar on plastic pollution control in late September, which she referred to as an inspiring experience that showed how lasting political commitment and investment can drive real change.

"China has integrated women's development into its broader modernization journey, and women are now visibly contributing to key areas such as innovation, poverty eradication and governance," said Delgado Jesus.

The ambassador commended the initiatives put forward by China at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, notably financial support to UN Women, the establishment of a Global Center for Women's Capacity Building, and the launch of 1,000 "small and beautiful" livelihood programs.

These initiatives, she said, reflect a long-term and concrete commitment to the global advancement of women and hold the potential to create real impact, particularly for women and girls in developing countries such as her own, Cabo Verde.

Co-chairing the WTO Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender, which was established in 2020 to promote the integration of gender perspectives into trade policy, Delgado Jesus has been committed to facilitating dialogue among members, encouraging exchanges, and exploring concrete ways to ensure that trade becomes a tool for women's economic empowerment.

"China's active participation in the Working Group has been very valuable," she said.

The ambassador commended China's increasingly important role in promoting inclusive trade and advancing women's empowerment, with a comprehensive approach that combines strong domestic policies with active international engagement.

Delgado Jesus voiced her expectation that China will continue to share its best practices, strengthen multilateral cooperation, and help promote the inclusive economic participation of women, particularly in developing countries.

"Its leadership in this area can inspire broader action across the global trade system," the ambassador said. ■