Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya attended the Opening Ceremony of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women 2025, held at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing on 13 October, at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Upon her arrival, Prime Minister Amarasuriya was warmly welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Madam Peng Liyuan, marking a gesture of respect and friendship between the two nations.
During the event, the Prime Minister delivered remarks highlighting women’s leadership, empowerment, and equality as essential pillars of sustainable global progress. She commended China’s efforts in promoting gender inclusion and international cooperation to advance women’s development.
“Nearly thirty years after the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing and the Beijing Platform for Action, we still draw on that comprehensive framework for gender equality. We have made real progress: female literacy has risen, maternal mortality has nearly halved, and global life expectancy has increased from 69 years in 1995 to 76 years in 2023. Yet serious gaps remain: women’s labour-force participation stands at just 48.7% compared with 73% for men; women account for only about 35% of graduates in science and technology; 47.8 million more women than men face moderate or severe food insecurity; and movement toward political parity is far too slow. All-round development of women is, therefore, a holistic process across education, health, the economy, politics, society, and culture and it demands our continued commitment.”
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