Chair, 

Thank you for convening this meeting. China supports the joint statement by Turkmenistan on behalf of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for peace, security and sustainable development. 

Women are a vital force for openness, inclusion, solidarity and cooperation, and play a unique and essential role in safeguarding and building peace. Last year, at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, President Xi Jinping underscored the need to support women in assuming their historic responsibilities, enabling them to play a substantive role in global governance and share in its benefits. In an era of rapid changes and ongoing profound transformation, we must further harness the role of women, vigorously promote a culture of peace, and resolutely safeguard global peace and stability. 

First, maintaining peace and security is an essential prerequisite. Without guarantees for survival and security nothing else can be meaningfully achieved. We must uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, stay committed to peaceful settlement of disputes, and promote ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in conflict-affected regions. We must firmly oppose all acts of violence against women and girls and support their equal, full, and effective participation in peace processes. 

Second, inclusive development is a fundamental guarantee. Efforts to strengthen women's leadership must be pursued within the framework of gender equality and women's empowerment. We must reaffirm our commitment to the Beijing Declaration and Program of Action and promote all-round development of women. We must fully bring to bear women's agency and power for transformation, thereby fundamentally enhancing their capacity to participate in and lead sustainable development. 

Third, strengthening exchanges and mutual learning is an important task. Women are messengers of peace and friendship and envoys of exchanges among different civilizations and cultures. We must uphold a people-centered approach, eliminate discrimination and prejudice, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and foster closer bonds among peoples. We must deepen mutual learning among women and support the UN in playing a central role in building broader platforms for cooperation among women worldwide. 

Chair, 

China has always been a builder of world peace and an advocate of and a contributor to the global advancement of women. We have trained more than 200,000 women professionals for over 180 countries and regions, deployed more than 1,000 female peacekeepers to the UN, and actively promoted the establishment of various exchange platforms, contributing to significant progress in women's empowerment. China stands ready to work with all parties to continue advancing a culture of peace, strengthen the “she” power, and inject new momentum into the cause of peace and the advancement of women worldwide. 

Thank you.