Beijing, 23 July 2021 (TDI): Chinese First Lady, Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping addressed the recently held SCO Forum on Women’s Education and Poverty Reduction. The first lady is also a special Ambassador for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for advancing women and girls’ education. In her important remarks, she has called for constant efforts for promoting education and poverty reduction. She was speaking to the gathering of women from across the region especially the permanent member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The event was co-sponsored by the All-China Women’s Federation and related institutions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Peng said that eliminating poverty and embracing happiness is the common aspiration of all women. Women can have the power to lift their communities out of poverty if they can get the right skills, knowledge, and education. She further highlighted the important work done by China to eliminate poverty and hundreds of Chinese women lifted out of poverty. She further added that as a result of China’s measures to ensure women’s equality and equal access to education contributed towards poverty alleviation.
Peng further said that there are 435 million women living in poverty globally and as a result of the global pandemic, there are further challenges for the women.
The first lady further said that for the past 20 years, women have played an active role in SCO’s development and she has called for further joining of hands to build cooperation.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Dr. Sania Nishtar represented Pakistan and highlighted Pakistan’s role in bolstering girls’ education at the Forum. Other key speakers were–Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan, Vice President of Iran, First Lady of Uzbekistan, First Lady of Afghanistan, USG of the UN and Executive Director of UN Women, Secretary-General of SCO, President of the Congress of Women of Kyrgyz Republic, and President of Mongolian Women’s Federation.
