Youth from all over the world gathered in Beijing recently to hold a nine-day event to promote gender equality. The theme of the event is "smart lady, smart life." The event was launched last July 11.
This event, organized by the 2016 Beijing International Youth Action, is a series of activities to be held for 9 days. These activities include sessions on women's empowerment, inheritance of traditional culture and natural heritage and international exchange.
Over 30 volunteers from 10 countries participated in the event.
Mia Jianhua, vice secretary general of the Chinese Society of Education, is one of the hosts. She said that this event is part of the government's efforts to meet one of the UN's Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
Part of meeting the MDGs, China intends to build an environment which is harmonious and inclusive to women's development. Beijing is aiming to be the international center of communication for women all over the world.
The endeavor is in line with the government's efforts to promote sustainable development for women. Event organizers and hosts are the Beijing's Women's Federation, the Beijing Women's International Communication Center and the foreign office under the municipal government.
The Chinese government is known to fight for women's rights for the past 20 years. In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a substantial donation of $10 million to UN Women. This huge donation will fund over a hundred projects on training of 130,000 women in developing countries.
President Jinping also included a gender and development agenda when he announced his candidacy for the G20 presidency.
Professor Peng Liyuan, China's first lady, has been lobbying for reforms on global policy on women. She hosted events among UN officials last year to push the agenda of gender issues.