After attending the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, South Africa's Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga sat down with CGTN digital journalist Cui Yingjie for an exclusive interview. She emphasized that women's empowerment must go hand in hand with equal access to education, technology and economic opportunities.

Gender equality is a constitutional right in South Africa, but true empowerment requires tangible policies, the minister says. To that end, the government has committed to setting aside 40 percent of government contracts for women-owned businesses, as stipulated in the new Public Procurement Act – a major step toward inclusive and sustainable growth.

Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Chikunga praised China's continued leadership in advancing gender equality and innovation. She expressed South Africa's readiness to strengthen cooperation with China in digital transformation, vocational training and women-led entrepreneurship under the China–South Africa Strategic Cooperation Framework (2020–2029).