Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech via video to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Meeting to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Beijing's World Conference on Women and put forward several initiatives concerning the importance of the status of women and the protection of women's rights and interests.

Women's needs, in particular, should be addressed in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and in promoting economic recovery. The first priority, Xi said, is to help women escape the impact of the pandemic, with a focus on the physical health, psychosocial needs and work environment of female frontline health workers. In addition, priority should be given to special groups. 

"We should give priority to protecting the rights and interests of women and girls in the plan to resume work and production and in public health," he said.

Second, the Chinese president proposed that to ensure gender equality, the protection of women's rights must become the will of the state. 

"At the same time, we should take post-pandemic recovery as an opportunity to provide new opportunities for women's participation in politics, and improve women's participation in the management of economic, cultural and social affairs of the country," he added.

Xi also called for the elimination of prejudice, discrimination and violence against women, and for making gender equality a standard of conduct and value shared by the whole society.

(Cover image from CFP)