The Republic of China has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment globally, pledging to deepen cooperation with Nigeria and other nations to accelerate women’s participation in national and international development.
Speaking at the China Women’s Film Festival in Abuja, Zhou Hongyou, Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, said China views gender equality as a cornerstone of its national development strategy and global engagement.
He underscored the country’s decades-long policy of promoting women’s education, employment, and social inclusion as part of its rapid transformation into an economic powerhouse.
“Chinese women have fully utilised their intelligence, talents and creativity, playing an indispensable role in China’s transformation from a poor and backward country to a world economic powerhouse in just over the past 50 years,” Hongyou stated.
According to him, China has made women’s development a measurable component of its national planning system, integrating gender equality goals into its five-year national economic and social development plans.
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This approach, he said, has helped ensure that progress in women’s empowerment directly contributes to broader social and economic growth.
“China has integrated women’s development goals and tasks into its five-year plan for national economic and social development, using the status of women’s development as a key metric for assessing broader economic and social progress,” he added.
Hongyou also announced that the upcoming Global Women’s Summit, to be hosted by China, will focus on aligning gender equality initiatives with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, reinforcing international cooperation in advancing women’s rights and opportunities.
“China is working with the Nigerian side and other countries around the world to accelerate the comprehensive development of women and open a new chapter in the advancement of the women’s cause globally,” he said.
Gabriel Zock, Chairman of the House Committee on Culture and Creative Economy, commended China for using cultural platforms like the film festival to promote gender inclusion and creative exchange between both nations.
“This festival is another bridge linking our creative communities, inspiring new possibilities for cooperation, artistic collaboration, and knowledge exchange,” Zock said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to increasing women’s participation in leadership, noting that the National Assembly is working on constitutional amendments to reserve 30% of elective and appointive positions for women in governance.
“By God’s grace, in the coming years, more women will take their rightful place in leadership and decision-making across our nation,” he said.
Zock emphasised that cultural cooperation between Nigeria and China can strengthen mutual understanding and foster a world where creativity and peace thrive.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Iman Suleman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, Rukkayah lauded the China Women’s Film Festival as a platform that celebrates resilience, creativity, and cross-cultural storytelling.
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“Through the art of film, we are reminded that stories have the power to bridge cultures, ignite compassion, and build mutual understanding across borders,” she said.
Rukkayah noted that the festival’s timing coincides with renewed international reflection on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark global framework that continues to guide advocacy for gender equality and women’s rights three decades later.
She also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to women’s empowerment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting the programmes that strengthen families, improve child protection, and expand economic opportunities for women and vulnerable groups.
“Through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention Programme, the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs is driving transformative initiatives that promote women’s economic empowerment, strengthen the family system, and enhance welfare for vulnerable groups,” she stated.
Rukkayah emphasised that Nigeria’s collaboration with China extends beyond diplomacy to practical partnerships in innovation, technology, and creative industries, particularly women-led entrepreneurship in film and digital storytelling.
“China’s success in leveraging culture, technology, and social innovation provides valuable lessons for Nigeria. Together, our partnership can expand opportunities for capacity-building, creative industry exchange, and women-led entrepreneurship,” she said.
