Acting Consul General of China in Johannesburg, Zhou Yujiang, has emphasized the crucial role of government and the state in promoting women’s empowerment. He made the remarks at the Women for Impact: Innovation and Sustainability in Africa (WIISA) conference hosted by the University of Johannesburg.

“Today, we gather here to talk about women’s impact. I understand that we are essentially talking about the development of mankind, because without women, there would be no continuity of the human race or human society,” said Zhou.

He added that the liberation and progress of mankind would not be attainable without the liberation and progress of women.

The seasoned Chinese diplomat noted that women are creators of material and spiritual wealth and represent an important force driving social development. However, he acknowledged that gender inequality has persisted since the Neolithic Age, with women still facing challenges in rights, opportunities, and access to resources.

According to Zhou, this is a common challenge worldwide, regardless of socio-economic development levels.

“Women account for over half of the 800 million impoverished population of the world. They tend to bear the brunt of wars and epidemics and suffer deeply from violence,” Zhou stated. He said this shows that the world still has a long way to go in achieving gender equality.

Highlighting China’s perspective, Zhou said: “In China, we believe that ‘women hold half of the sky’.”

He added that governments should strive for women’s development in tandem with social and economic progress and protect their rights and interests. He cited China’s Five-Year Plans and specific initiatives like the “Water Cellar for Mothers” and “Spring Bud” programmes as examples of targeted efforts to support women and girls.

Zhou also pointed to China’s legislative efforts, noting that the first law enacted in the People’s Republic of China was the Marriage Law, which aimed to overturn patriarchal dominance. He said China now has a legal system with over 100 laws and regulations protecting women’s rights and is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the 10 fast-track countries in women’s and children’s health.

Zhou emphasised the need for governments to build harmonious and inclusive societies and foster cooperation.

He reiterated that the Chinese Consulate General in Johannesburg always attaches great importance to promoting women’s development and cooperation between South Africa and China.

“We have twice hosted forums on women’s empowerment. Last year, we established the Consul-General’s Award for Academic Excellence for female students in the Faculty of Humanities at UJ and donated sanitary products to girl students in need. We have also encouraged the local Chinese community to help young school girls,” he said.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, which was held in Beijing in 1995. Over the past 30 years, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at that conference became a milestone in the global pursuit of gender equality. They have inspired positive changes worldwide and driven remarkable progress in advancing the rights of women and girls globally.”

Zhou said by 1995, only 12 countries had laws against violence towards women.

“Today, 193 countries have enacted 1,583 relevant legal measures, and 112 have established national action plans specifically focused on women. This demonstrates the tremendous power of global consensus and collective action,” he said.

“As a follow-up to President Xi Jinping’s proposal, China will co-host, with UN Women, a global leaders’ meeting on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Beijing in the latter half of this year. We look forward to working with all parties to discuss major issues concerning women’s development worldwide, to build a more sustainable platform for women’s empowerment, and to promote the greater role of women in global governance.”

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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