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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Colombo, October 13 (Xinhua) — China has demonstrated strong will and global leadership in advancing women's rights and gender equality through concrete actions, such as hosting the Global Women's Summit, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasurya said in an interview with Xinhua before arriving at the Beijing summit.
According to her, the upcoming event will strengthen trust in the global cause of women's development. "Thirty years ago, a crucial summit dedicated to women's development, as well as women and gender issues, was held in Beijing. What was discussed then is still relevant today," the head of government said, calling it "truly significant" that Beijing is hosting such a global gathering again 30 years later.
“It is very important to remind the world of the importance of taking women’s issues into account when it comes to development or anything else,” she added.
According to H. Amarasurya, unequal access to economic opportunities remains a serious obstacle to women's progress. In some developing countries, women continue to face low wages, informal employment, and limited social protection, leading to a persistent undervaluation of their role.
"This situation impacts women's ability to participate in society as full citizens," she said. "To achieve genuine change, we need to implement structural changes that will give women access to the economy, education, and healthcare, and ensure their full participation in decision-making," the prime minister emphasized.
Commenting on China's achievements, H. Amarasurya noted that today's Chinese women are more self-confident, independent, and active in public life. "Thanks to this, they also enjoy a higher level of freedom," she said, calling this China's unique contribution to women's empowerment worldwide.
China's political and economic systems enable it to address systemic inequality and reduce marginalization, the agency's source stated. "China has made real progress in expanding women's economic empowerment. It continues to support women and is ready to take global leadership on these issues," she added.
Sri Lanka and China have significant potential for cooperation in women's empowerment and gender equality, noted H. Amarasurya. "We have significant opportunities for cooperation in areas such as education and healthcare, which directly impact the well-being of women and children," she said.
The head of government also thanked China for providing Sri Lanka with school uniform fabric, which was a "wonderful gift" from the Chinese people. "We are deeply grateful for this," she added.
H. Amarasurya expressed high expectations for the upcoming event. "This will be my first opportunity to participate in a global summit dedicated to women," she noted, adding that meeting and sharing experiences with women leaders from around the world will be very meaningful.
"I believe this summit will be of great benefit to us, as it will allow us to reflect on the past 30 years and understand how to move forward," the Prime Minister said. "We hope this meeting will make it clear that women continue to be a valued consideration and that they must continue to be prioritized in our political and development agendas," she stated. –0–
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