Mr. President,

China thanks Executive Director Sima Bahous for the briefing and commends UN Women for the efforts in implementing the previous strategic plan. The ongoing challenges facing the global cause of women's empowerment further underscore the importance of UN Women. Let me make four points.

First, it is important to lead through action. The Strategic Plan 2026-2029 provides a roadmap and blueprint for advancing gender equality over the next four years. Only by working together with determination and resolve, and by translating the plan's three strategic pathways and the three transformative goals into concrete results, can we effectively accelerate progress towards achieving gender equality targets of the 2030 Agenda.

Second, it is important to prioritize key areas. Gender issues are not just about human rights, but also about development. The right to survival and development is the cornerstone of women's empowerment. We hope that UN Women will continue to be development-oriented, invest more resources in development, and focus on areas such as poverty alleviation, education, health, employment, and social protection for women, thereby laying a solid foundation for women's all-round development.

Third, it is important to embrace changes. Advancing the cause of women requires us to uphold fundamental principles while fostering innovation. We support UN Women in continuing to participate in the UN80 Initiative while preserving its triple mandate. UN Women should further optimize its organizational effectiveness, better leverage its competitive advantages, and strengthen coordination and collaboration with agencies such as UNFPA and UNICEF so as to better deliver results.

Fourth, it is important to mobilize funding. The funding gap for women's development is widening, seriously hindering progress towards gender equality targets, particularly in developing countries. We call on all parties to increase their support for UN Women's core budget and development programs. We also encourage UN Women to diversify funding sources and fundraising strategy, and enhance transparency and efficiency of fund utilization.

Mr. President,

China will fulfill its promise to contribute USD10 million to UN Women over the next five years. We will further deepen exchanges and cooperation with UN Women. Under the guidance of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we are ready to work with all sides to translate the consensus reached in the Global Leaders Meeting on Women last October into concrete actions and accelerate progress for women's all-round development.

Thank you.