Global Leaders' Meeting on Women Commences in Beijing

International Summit on Women's Development Underway in Beijing

The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women commenced today, October 13, 2025, in Beijing, China. Co-hosted by the Chinese government and UN Women, the high-level international conference is scheduled to run through October 14. The meeting aims to reaffirm the spirit of the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, and to accelerate global efforts towards gender equality and women's all-round development.

Renewing the Spirit of the Beijing Declaration

This year's meeting holds particular significance as it marks the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, which adopted the pivotal Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This foundational document, unanimously adopted by 189 countries, established a comprehensive agenda for women's empowerment across 12 critical areas of concern, including women and poverty, education, health, violence against women, and participation in decision-making. The current gathering seeks to build on these commitments and address contemporary challenges to women's rights and opportunities.

Key Participants and Agenda

The meeting has drawn a significant international presence, with heads of state, government leaders, parliamentary leaders, deputy prime ministers, ministerial officials, and representatives from various international organizations and continents converging in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping is slated to attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote speech, underscoring China's commitment to advancing women's development. Leaders from nations including Iceland, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Dominica, and Mozambique have already arrived in the Chinese capital. The theme for the meeting is 'One Shared Future: New and Accelerated Process for Women's All-round Development'.

China's Ongoing Commitment to Gender Equality

China, as the co-host, has consistently championed the principles outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. President Xi Jinping has previously emphasized that 'women's rights and interests are basic human rights' and that 'without women's liberation and progress, the liberation and progress of humankind would not be attainable'. Since 2015, China has contributed $20 million to UN Women to support the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the realization of related goals within the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, funding initiatives in maternal and child health, education, and vocational training.