During the SCO Forum on Women's Education and Poverty Reduction, guests from various countries praised China's great contributions to the advancement of women's development and helping ensure the well-being of people around the world. They also expected to share good practices with China, strengthen and deepen women's exchanges, and achieve the common goal of eliminating poverty and living a happy life.

'President Xi Jinping Has Made a Significant Contribution to the Advancement of the Women's Agenda and the Practical Implementation of Tasks both at Home and on the International Stage'

Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

"President Xi Jinping has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the women's agenda and the practical implementation of tasks both at home and on the international stage."

Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, First Lady of the Republic of Uzbekistan

"President Xi is regarded as the core of progress, in various fields in China. He leads the CPC as well as the diligent and brave Chinese people in achieving reform and outstanding progress in various fields. China has historically solved the problem of absolute poverty, which marks a stable leap forward in the fulfillment of the Chinese Dream and sets a good example for the world."

Moin ul Haque, Ambassador of Pakistan to China

Moin ul Haque, Ambassador of Pakistan to China

"The CPC has raised important proposals to improve Chinese people's livelihoods, lifting 1.4 billion Chinese people out of poverty; this is an unprecedented achievement in the history of China, and even the world. As good friends of Chinese, we are proud of China's achievements and its important contribution to regional peace and stability."

Mohammad Keshavarz-Zadeh, Ambassador of Iran to China

Mohammad Keshavarz-Zadeh, Ambassador of Iran to China

"President Xi has been to those once-poverty-stricken areas and asked people there about their true needs. He always keeps a close connection with his people, helping them shake off poverty and lead a happy life. As the ambassador of Iran to China, I have witnessed with my eyes how Chinese people, under the leadership of President Xi, have won the great victory of poverty alleviation. I admire deeply this achievement."

Zamira Akbagysheva, President of the Congress of Women of Kyrgyz Republic

"Under the leadership of President Xi, China eliminated absolute poverty in 2020, achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 10 years earlier than scheduled. Women of Kyrgyz Republic support the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi, and we support the SCO region as it carries out comprehensive, open, mutually beneficial and equal cooperation and builds a community with a shared future for mankind."

'Mme. Peng's Remarks Are a Source of Great Power to Help Women Become Better'

Moin ul Haque, Ambassador of Pakistan to China

"Mme. Peng is a UNESCO special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education. She attaches great importance to women's education and poverty reduction. I admire it very much. In her remarks, Peng mentioned 'women can be empowered to shake off poverty by receiving education and obtaining knowledge and skills.' We learned about the Spring Bud project, a program to develop the specialty industry of women's handicrafts, and various mechanisms to provide employment to tens of thousands of Chinese women. We better realized the importance of empowering women and giving them a good education."

Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Ambassador of Nepal to China

Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Ambassador of Nepal to China

"Mme. Peng's remarks pointed out various problems and challenges women have to cope with in the world today. Her remarks are inspiring for people, and in particular, for women of SCO countries, and the remarks also inspire the world."

Anyin Choo, Ambassador of Guyana to China

Anyin Choo, Ambassador of Guyana to China

"Mme. Peng's remarks approved women's role in lifting the entire population out of poverty. I have noticed that China has lifted 49 million women out of poverty. China has achieved a significant milestone, in terms of achieving real equality between men and women."

Effum Princess Amoah, Student from Ghana

"Mme Peng's remarks are a source of great power to help women become better. The remarks, which are profound and convincing, outline methods to empower women."

'Hope to Gain Wisdom and Inspiration from China's Practices'

Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

"The forum was initiated by the ACWF. I believe this forum will not only serve as a platform for discussion, but will also make it possible to develop concrete measures and proposals for solving such urgent problems that are being discussed today. The People's Republic of China announced this year the elimination of absolute poverty and can share its invaluable experience."

Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, First Lady of the Republic of Uzbekistan

"In collaboration with government institutions and social organizations of SCO countries, we hope to raise women's status in governance, economic management and social administration. Based on China's successful experiences in poverty alleviation, we hope to make poverty reduction plans in rural areas and improve the quality of women's lives."

Matloubkhon Sattoriyon, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan

"Our aim is to develop good neighborliness, deepen traditional friendship and safeguard regional peace, stability and security. I believe today's forum will be an important contribution to our shared undertakings and it will provide a platform beneficial for various countries to share good practices."

Masoumeh Ebtekar, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

"I hope to take the opportunity of attending this forum to exchange experiences with representatives from SCO countries and achieve fruitful results. It is believed that all people, especially women and members from families, will learn something from this forum."

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngeuka, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women

"I would like to thank the SCO and the ACWF for inviting me, as well as for hosting this event. I want to congratulate China on taking 49 million women out of poverty. I want to commend you for deciding that education is significant and important for women everywhere in China. You not only invest in STEM education, but also in making sure that women can use technology. I also appreciate your rural revitalization initiative. UN women would like to work with you to remove all the barriers that affect women and girls everywhere in the world."

Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General of the SCO

Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General of the SCO

"China's good practices are very important for the big family of the SCO. China has comprehensively eliminated absolute poverty. Other members of the SCO are willing to learn advanced experiences from China, continuously improve people's lives and lift them out of extreme poverty."

Zamira Akbagysheva, President of the Congress of Women of Kyrgyz Republic

"On behalf of the Congress of Women of Kyrgyz Republic, I extend our sincere gratitude to the ACWF President Shen Yueyue for years of friendship, partnership and cooperation between our organizations. Undoubtedly, every country of the SCO should learn from China's successful practices."

Mohammad Keshavarz-Zadeh, Ambassador of Iran to China

"The core of the great achievement China has made is that the country provides education to all of its people, and in particular, to ensure women receive equal education. During the process of providing education to all, advancing gender equality and fulfilling equity and justice, Chinese people have benefited a lot; and this is worth learning."

Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Ambassador of Nepal to China

"Chinese women have been lifted completely from poverty and they have made great achievements. They are playing a more important role in society. I hope to gain wisdom and inspiration from China's practices."

Photos supplied by Yang Rui, Fan Wenjun and Zhang Jiamin

(Women of China English Monthly August 2021 issue)