Your Excellency Ms. Amina Mohammad, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Your Excellency Ms. Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of the UN-Woman,

Your Excellency Ambassador Sérgio Danese,

Your Excellency Ambassador Wellington Castaños,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening!

Eighty years ago today, the Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco. As one of the four initiators of the Organization, China was the first signatory, and Ms. Wu Yi-fang from the Chinese Delegation was the first woman to sign. Of the four women who inked their names on the Charter, three were from the Global South.

The signing of the UN Charter marked the beginning of a new era of multilateralism and international cooperation. It also heralded a new chapter for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Thanks to the concerted efforts of Ms. Wu and other delegates, the Charter’s preamble reaffirms the faith in the equal rights of men and women.

These are simple words, but they express bold ambitions at that time. Over the decades, the commitment has grown into a global campaign with the United Nations at the center. Across the world, it has played a crucial role in women’s empowerment, especially with the awakening of the Global South during and after decolonization.

All these efforts culminated in the Fourth World Conference on Women, which China proudly hosted in Beijing in 1995. The Conference outcome—the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—turned the UN Charter’s vision into a comprehensive working plan. The implementation has transformed the lives of countless women and girls and moved our societies forward. To this day, this guiding document remains the most visionary and inclusive framework for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of that historic conference. But around the world, the cause of gender equality faces growing push-backs. Flaring conflicts, rising geopolitical tensions, and the stalled 2030 Agenda are all threatening the hard-won progress of previous decades.

In these challenging times, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action are more relevant than ever. The best way to push back the push-backs is to renew our commitment and accelerate the implementation.

That’s why, as proposed by President Xi Jinping, China will join hands with UN Women to host the second Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment later this year in Beijing. We also look forward to the High-level Meeting at the General Assembly to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Conference.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Beyond gender equality, the UN Charter set out other lofty aspirations: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to promote fundamental human rights, to uphold equal rights of nations large and small, and to promote social progress and better standards of life. The list goes on.

The Charter laid out a vision for a better world. We are not there yet, but the vision is still worth fighting for.

On this 80th anniversary, let us renew our commitment to the words and spirit of the Charter. Let us stand firm, shoulder to shoulder, for multilateral diplomacy, international cooperation, and a stronger United Nations. Together, we can build a shared future and a better world for all.

Thank you.