China's First Lady Peng Liyuan, also United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, sent a congratulatory message to the laureates of UNESCO via a video on October 12. 

In her message, Peng congratulated the prize winners from Sri Lanka and Kenya. In 2015, China established the Girls' and Women's Education Award with UNESCO, and Peng mentioned that there are millions of people who have devoted their lives to the education of girls and women in China.