The first high-level China-Pakistan Women’s Forum was held on Tuesday, highlighting the contribution made by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to alleviating poverty among women in Pakistan.
The forum was held in Kunming, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.
The first China-Pakistan Women's Forum is held in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province on May 25, 2021. Photo: Belt and Road Portal
Participants agreed to establish institutional mechanisms by signing memorandums of understanding that would have a substantial impact on women’s participation in socio-economic post-COVID-19 recovery and shape the international narrative on women’s roles in China and Pakistan. Such mechanisms would provide a basis for practical cooperation between the women of both countries in the future.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Beijing, in collaboration with the All China Women’s Federation (ACWF), All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) and Yunnan Provincial Women’s Federation co-organized the event.
Xia Jie, vice president of ACWF, said that under the guidance of the leadership of the two countries, the women of Pakistan and China have come even closer than ever before. She saluted the frontline workers, particularly female health respondents for their work during COVID-19.
“I hope the women of Pakistan will develop ties with the women’s organizations of Yunnan Province through the forum,” said Gao Feng, vice chairman of the Yunnan Provincial People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Women’s development contributes to the social, economic and ecological development of the entire nation, said Zhao Baige, chairperson of Chinese think tank Research & Development International, suggesting that women’s participation in every sector be enhanced to achieve sustainable development goals.
Attendees of the first China-Pakistan Women's Forum pose for a group photo. Photo: Belt and Road Portal
Shireen Mazari, Minister for Human Rights of Pakistan, introduced the government’s policies and her personal involvement in upholding the rights and dignity of women in Pakistan in her keynote video message. She emphasized that women in Pakistan were getting more opportunities under CPEC and underscored the need for increased technical and vocational training for women. She also highlighted the ways in which the government was responding in order to ease the social impact of the pandemic, particularly on women and children.
Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, appreciated the role of the forum in positively influencing engagement between the women of the two countries in her video message. She shared the socio-economic outcomes of the implementation of the Ehsaas program, which has immensely benefitted underprivileged women.
Naghmana Hashmi, Pakistan’s former Ambassador to China, shared her views and highly appreciated marking the anniversary with the holding of a women’s forum, which has contributed immensely to the strengthening of bilateral ties. She proposed establishing a Pakistan-China Women’s Corridor under CPEC to achieve the gender empowerment aims of the two governments.
Charmaine Hidayatullah, President of APWA, addressed the need and significance of forging deeper cooperation between the women’s organizations of the two countries.
Speaking at the occasion, Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque commended the leadership role of women’s organizations of the two countries. He thanked China and ACWF for their generous donation to help Pakistan during the pandemic. He valued their devotion in promoting the rights and interests of women. He also called upon the two organizations to create a permanent mechanism that would serve as a bilateral platform for young professionals and women entrepreneurs to share their experience and expertise.
