China-Arab forum calls for women to help build Belt, Road

The second China-Arab Women’s Forum was held in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss the challenges facing women, as well as promote exchanges and cooperation.

The forum, organized by the All-China Women’s Federation, was themed “Uniting Women’s Power, Building a Silk Road”.

More than 150 representatives attended the event, including politicians, professors, female entrepreneurs and the leaders of women’s associations from China, Jordan, Tunisia, Sudan, Iraq and other Arab countries.

Shen Yueyue, president of the Chinese federation, said in her address that the Belt and Road Initiative provides new opportunities for both China and Arab nations to complement one another and secure common development.

Exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Arab women have always played an important part in cultural exchanges between their countries and helped promote friendship, she said.

She added that she hopes women can learn from each other to build the Belt and Road together, and promote regional and global gender equality.

Zhang Ming, vice-minister of foreign affairs, said exchanges between Chinese and Arab women date back about 60 years, and that women have played an indispensable role in the fields of art, education, healthcare and sport.

Enas Sayed Mekkawy, director of the Arab League’s women, family and children department, said women from the two sides should unite to contribute to the construction of the Belt and Road and deepen bilateral political and economic cooperation.

The forum comprised three themed sessions: “Women's Empowerment and Policy Support”, “Women’s Contribution to the Building of the Belt and Road”, “Women and Cultural Heritage”.

The first China-Arab Women’s Forum was held two years ago in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Zhang Yi contributed to this story.