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Xiplomacy: How China helps empower women from Asia to Africa

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1 mois ago

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Women are creators of material and spiritual wealth, and represent an important force driving social development and progress, » Chinese President Xi Jinping once said.

Xi made the observation while chairing the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at the UN Headquarters in New York on Sept. 27, 2015, where he outlined China’s commitment to advancing women’s development and international cooperation.

Over the past decade, China has made significant strides in promoting the all-round development of women. Countless Chinese women are excelling in different domains, contributing their strength and wisdom to global peace and development, as well as to the better protection of women and children.

At the same time, China has joined hands with countries worldwide to empower women. From Asia to Africa, inspiring stories of shared efforts toward building a better world have accelerated the global advancement of the cause of women.

SAFEGUARDING HER WELL-BEING

In late September, 14-year-old Alifa Chin from Bangladesh visited China for the third time. She toured universities and exchanged ideas with her Chinese peers, gathering inspiration and energy to pursue her dreams.

When Chin was born in 2010, her mother suffered a difficult delivery due to a severe heart problem. At that time, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark was in Bangladesh as part of a multiple-country mission to provide free medical services to local people. Upon learning of the emergency, Chinese doctors aboard the ship rushed to the local hospital to perform a cesarean section on her mother. Both mother and daughter were saved.

The child’s father, Anwar Hossen, named his daughter « Chin, » meaning « China » in Bengali.

In 2017, Chin met Dr. Sheng Ruifang, a Chinese female doctor who had performed the surgery. As they embraced warmly, the young girl called out « Chinese mother » in English. From that moment, the dream of becoming a doctor took root. Dr. Sheng encouraged her, saying, « I am willing to share all my experience with you. »

In 2023, Chin wrote a letter to Xi, sharing her special connection with China and her dream. The president responded, encouraging her to study hard to make her dream come true, give back to her family, contribute to society and serve her country.

Chin framed Xi’s letter, and displayed it on her desk. « I want to tell dear Grandpa Xi that I have always remembered your advice and am studying hard to achieve my dreams, » she said. « My ‘Chinese mother’ gave me both life and inspiration, and I hope to follow her example by using my abilities to help and save others. »

On a global scale, China’s initiatives demonstrate its commitment to women’s welfare. It has helped developing countries implement 100 « health projects for women and children » and 100 « happy campus projects, » providing educational support to disadvantaged girls.

Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO, spoke highly of the Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, jointly established by China and UNESCO in 2015. The award has supported 20 projects across 19 countries, raising global awareness about the importance of education for women’s well-being and empowerment.

HELPING HER SHINE IN LIFE

Tahiya Bauso Massawe, a female cattle keeper from Tanzania, has benefited greatly from China’s Juncao technology. At first, she was skeptical about this new type of forage introduced by Chinese experts.

« It looks like sugarcane. Would the cattle actually eat it? » She wondered. Yet the cows love it, and the milk production nearly doubled.

Rising income has allowed Massawe to buy new equipment and a vehicle, and hired 16 employees — half of them women. She encouraged other women to grow Juncao as well, helping many earn their income for the first time and enabling them to support their families and children’s education.

For Massawe, Juncao symbolizes equality, hope and opportunity. She said that this technology brought by Chinese experts has gradually improved their lives and transformed the role of local women.

Xi has emphasized on multiple international occasions the vital role of women’s development in achieving common progress. « Development cannot be achieved without women, and the benefits it brings must be shared by all, » he said at the 2015 UN meeting.

Today, the Juncao technology has provided employment opportunities for women in 106 countries worldwide. The Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative, jointly launched by China and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, has improved the lives of women in many African countries. Additionally, Luban Workshop, a Chinese vocational training program, has trained nearly 6,000 female students.

For Gertrude Mongella, secretary-general of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, in some developing countries, women continue to lag behind men in many fields due to a lack of funding, knowledge and skills.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, she expressed her hope for China to continue sharing its experiences and strengthening cooperation with more countries, including African nations, to promote the continuous development of global women’s affairs.

GREATER HER EMPOWERMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

In late September, over 40 female officials from Pakistan and the Central African Republic visited China to participate in capacity-building workshops organized by the newly established Global Exchange and Cooperation Center for Digital Empowerment of Women.

In cities and towns like Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Yiwu, they studied China’s grassroots governance, researched cases related to women’s entrepreneurship, digital villages and cross-border e-commerce. The visit helped them gain firsthand insight into how China leverages digital technologies to empower women, boosting both women’s self-development and their social contribution.

To deepen cooperation in capacity-building for women in developing countries, China has initiated over 100 training projects focused on women and children in developing countries since 2018, training nearly 4,000 talents in the field of women’s empowerment.

Additionally, China has established a global training base for women’s development cooperation and exchange, designing tailored empowerment programs for developing countries. Collaborative training and exchange centers have been set up in partnership with 15 countries. Leveraging the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, China has also implemented women-focused projects in more than 20 countries, with total funding exceeding 40 million U.S. dollars.

For Bokova, the former UNESCO head, one of China’s most impressive recent achievements is how Chinese women are « riding the wave » of the digital economy.

« We know all too well that this is the economy of the future, » Bokova observed. « If we want to support women’s empowerment, we should equip women with digital skills so they can participate flexibly and fully in the growing digital economy. That is exactly what China is doing today. »

Monica Monteiro, chairperson of the Brazilian Chapter of BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, said that while women in developing countries still face certain obstacles, digitalization and the knowledge economy are creating new opportunities and opening new pathways for women’s development.

China has achieved remarkable success in promoting women’s employment and entrepreneurship in the digital technology sector, providing valuable references and examples for Global South countries, she said. 

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Jointly Building a New Model of Global Leadership — Work Together in Pursuit of a More Just and Rational Global Governance System

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3 jours ago

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novembre 15, 2025

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Afrique

Global South media, think tank forum to open in South Africa

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3 jours ago

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novembre 15, 2025

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The Global South Media and Think Tank Forum China-Africa Partnership Conference will be held on Thursday and Friday to discuss ways to strengthen global governance and deepen China-Africa cooperation.

More than 200 representatives from over 160 media outlets, think tanks, government organizations and other institutions from China and 41 African countries, as well as the African Union, will gather to engage in discussions under the theme « Reforming Global Governance: New Roles and Visions for China-Africa Cooperation. »

During the forum, guests from Global South countries will hold in-depth discussions on three topics: « China-Africa Commitments to Global Governance Reform, » « China-Africa Action for Global South Revitalization, » and « China-Africa Exchange in Global Civilizational Coexistence. »

Participants will also attend a series of activities, including a cultural exchange event between China’s Hunan Province and its African partners.

The forum will feature the release of a think tank report titled « Jointly Building a New Model of Global Leadership — Work together in Pursuit of a More Just and Rational Global Governance System, » and the launch of the Global South joint communication partnership network « United in Heart, Path and Action — 2026 China-Africa Partnership Empowerment Action Plan. »

Jointly organized by Xinhua News Agency and the African Union, the forum brings together Chinese and African participants with the aim of deepening exchanges and cooperation between media and think tanks.

They seek to amplify the main theme of the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, and to pool wisdom to make the Global South a stabilizing force for safeguarding peace, a pillar of open development, a constructive player in global governance, and a promoter of mutual learning among civilizations. ■

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Xinhua Headlines: Global South media, think tanks pool wisdom to improve global governance

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3 jours ago

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novembre 15, 2025

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* Against the backdrop of profound changes unseen in a century, the awakening of the Global South and its growing cooperation have become an indispensable part of the international landscape, with China-Africa cooperation at the core.

* The highlights of China-Africa cooperation represent the Chinese vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The Global South Media and Think Tank Forum China-Africa Partnership Conference opened here on Thursday to explore ways to strengthen global governance and deepen China-Africa cooperation.

The two-day event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency, the African Union (AU) and South Africa’s Independent Media, among other partners, gathered more than 200 representatives from over 160 media outlets, think tanks, government organizations and other institutions from China and 41 African countries, as well as the AU.

It focuses on how collaboration between media and think tanks can contribute to shaping a fairer and more inclusive global governance under the theme « Reforming Global Governance: New Roles and Visions for China-Africa Cooperation. »

STRENGTHENING CHINA-AFRICA SYNERGY

Against the backdrop of profound changes unseen in a century, the awakening of the Global South and its growing cooperation have become an indispensable part of the international landscape, with China-Africa cooperation at the core.

In 2015, 2018 and 2021, China successively announced at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) the implementation of the 10 cooperation plans, eight major initiatives and nine programs, drawing a blueprint for China-Africa cooperation.

Quoting an African proverb, « If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together, » Lyu Yansong, editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency, called on media and think tanks to take the conference as an opportunity to build consensus, strengthen solidarity and collaboration, and jointly create a better future in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

Addressing the event, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng shared three keywords on China-Africa cooperation — partnership, practicality and prospects.

« China is ready to work with African countries to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, further expand win-win cooperation across all fields, and speed up the common modernization of China and Africa, » said Wu.

Noting that the relationship between Africa and China has evolved over decades of solidarity, mutual respect and shared aspirations for development, Leslie Richer, the AU director of information and communication, said that Africa will work with China and other Global South partners to make its voice heard more strongly, while promoting more balanced narratives through closer media and think tank cooperation.

The event featured the launch of the Global South joint communication partnership network « United in Heart, Path and Action — 2026 China-Africa Partnership Empowerment Action Plan, » with the aim of better supporting the shared development of China and Africa.

Applauding the development of the Africa-China relationship, Jonathan Titus-Williams, deputy minister of planning and economic development of Sierra Leone, said that the partnership has long been characterized by solidarity and shared purpose grounded in mutual respect, equality, and a collective aspiration for a just and peaceful world.

As the permanent host of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, China’s Hunan province has made great efforts in recent years to promote cooperation in various fields such as agriculture, green energy and industrial chains with African partners.

Recognizing the expo as an important initiative under the FOCAC’s major action plans, Shen Yumou, head of the Hunan provincial commerce department, said that Hunan has been aiming to enhance China-Africa cooperation, focusing on building six major centers for trade in non-resource products, cross-border e-commerce, industrial development, financial cooperation, logistics and trade promotion, to serve as a strategic hub for China-Africa economic ties.

PROMOTING INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE

At the conference, the Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with Xinhua News Agency, released a report titled « Jointly Building a New Model of Global Leadership — Work Together in Pursuit of a More Just and Rational Global Governance System. »

The report argues that the world faces a global leadership deficit, reflected in the failure of peace, imbalance in development and discord among civilizations. It calls for a « new model of global leadership, » one that does not emanate from any single country, bloc or international organization, but rather represents a multilateral form of leadership — a synergy forged by the international community in active response to global challenges.

Noting the Global Governance Initiative put forward by China at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit in September, Lyu said, « Let us put the initiative into practice and jointly shape a just and equitable international order. »

He emphasized that media and think tanks from China and Africa should comprehensively expound on the Global South’s solutions for advancing the reform of the global governance system, and demonstrate the Global South’s strength reflected in the solidarity and cooperation of developing countries.

The remarks by Xinhua’s editor-in-chief resonated strongly with the participants.

« Tunisia and many African countries are key partners in the Global Governance Initiative and support China’s aspiration for a fairer and more equitable world order, » said Najeh Missaoui, chairman and CEO of the Tunis Africa News Agency.

Stressing the media’s role in advancing shared governance, Missaoui noted that the media is no longer just a tool for delivering news or sharing information; it has become a powerful force of cultural influence — shaping public opinion, contributing to decision-making, and nurturing dialogue and mutual understanding among peoples.

Similarly, Ismaila Ceesay, minister for information of The Gambia, said that it is believed that the future of global governance must be inclusive, multipolar and reflective of the rich diversity of human experience.

« China’s support in fostering training, technology transfer and infrastructure development across Africa’s media landscape is a valuable contribution toward this goal, » he added.

FORGING SHARED FUTURE

The highlights of China-Africa cooperation represent the Chinese vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Since the establishment of FOCAC 25 years ago, China and Africa have cooperated on building or upgrading nearly 100,000 km of roads and more than 10,000 km of railways across Africa. Over the past three years, Chinese enterprises have created more than 1.1 million jobs on the African continent. The results of China-Africa cooperation are visible and palpable, and have truly benefited the people of both sides.

Iqbal Surve, chairman of South Africa’s Independent Media, hailed the Africa-China partnership as a beacon of what genuine cooperation can achieve, one grounded in mutual respect, shared goals, and a commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive world order.

« Together, we can build a world that is more balanced, more just, and more humane — a world where every voice counts and every nation thrives, » he added.

From Madagascar’s hybrid rice to agricultural poverty reduction demonstration villages in Sao Tome and Principe, from Ethiopia’s Eastern Industrial Zone to the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, and from Mauritania’s China-Africa Green Technology Park to the geothermal power plant of Sosian Energy in Kenya, the Chinese solutions are boosting the continent’s modernization drive.

Erastus Mwencha, former deputy chairperson of the AU Commission, praised China as one of the countries that really speak and advocate for the Global South, noting that Africa’s Ubuntu philosophy, which means « I am because we are » holds that no one should be left behind, and reflects values that align closely with China’s vision and advocacy.

Noting the importance of an action-led global governance model to address the practical concerns of sustainable peace and development, Peter Kagwanja, president and chief executive of the Africa Policy Institute, said that Africa and China should partner in the proposed Global Governance Initiative as the surest pathway to a reformed and inclusive global governance system.

« It is key to realize the noble dream of a community with a shared future for humanity in a multipolar order, » he added.  

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