Phnom Penh / Beijing: Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, attended the opening ceremony of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing on October 13. The high-level event was held under the presidency of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.
The meeting, convened under the theme “One Shared Future: New and Accelerated Process for Women’s All-Round Development,” gathered approximately 1,000 participants. These included heads of state, government, and parliamentary leaders from nearly 100 countries, alongside representatives of international organizations and development partners. The gathering marked the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).
China Announces Major Initiatives
In his opening address, President Xi Jinping outlined key priorities to accelerate the global advancement of women and strengthen cooperation on gender equality.
President Xi announced a series of new, substantial initiatives to support women’s development worldwide over the next five years:
- Financial Commitments: China will donate US$10 million to UN Women. Additionally, it will earmark US$100 million from its Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund for projects benefiting women and girls, in partnership with other countries.
- Capacity Building & Exchange: China committed to implementing 1,000 small livelihood projects, inviting 50,000 women annually to China for exchange and training programmes, and establishing a Centre for Women’s Capacity Building and Cooperation to train talented women and foster collaboration.
President Xi noted that these commitments demonstrate China’s dedication to promoting women’s empowerment, gender equality, and leadership in areas such as green transformation and digital innovation.
Cambodia’s Commitment to Gender Equality
Samdech Khuon Sudary’s participation in this high-level global forum reflects Cambodia’s continued engagement with international partners. Her attendance underscores Cambodia’s commitment to promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development in alignment with the spirit of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.