中文
By Maya Majueran
Lead: By bringing moderate prosperity to 690 million women while preserving cultural values, China offers the Global South a model of empowerment rooted in community rather than Western individualism.
In much of the Western world, women's empowerment is often equated with individual autonomy, the right to personal freedom, career advancement and independence from traditional social roles. While these may be significant achievements, they represent only one path to gender equality. In many societies across the Global South, women's empowerment carries a broader meaning, one deeply intertwined with community, family and collective well-being.
At the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women held in Beijing from Oct. 13 to 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented a compelling vision of women's empowerment. His message was clear: True empowerment must be rooted in social harmony, national development and cultural continuity. In doing so, Xi articulated a distinctly Global South approach to gender equality, one that emphasizes opportunity, shared prosperity and respect for traditional values.
Over the past three decades, China's progress in advancing women's rights has been remarkable. The country has brought moderate prosperity to 690 million women, reduced maternal mortality by nearly 80% since 1995 and integrated women into every sector of society. In China today, women comprise more than 40% of the workforce, over half of internet startup founders and more than 60% of Olympic medalists.
These achievements did not stem from ideological confrontation but from a development model that places women at the heart of national progress. As Xi stated, modernization "should involve and benefit women." The Chinese experience demonstrates that genuine empowerment is not about pitting women against men or tradition against modernity, but about lifting everyone through inclusive growth.
For the Global South, this model offers valuable lessons. Too often, Western-led gender agendas emphasize legalistic or symbolic reforms that fail to reflect economic realities. China's approach shows that empowerment rooted in development through education, health care and job creation can yield more sustainable and meaningful outcomes. When women share equally in prosperity, they gain not only rights but also resilience.
Perhaps the most profound distinction between China's model and the Western paradigm lies in its treatment of the family. In much of the Western discourse, empowerment is often portrayed as breaking free from familial obligations or cultural expectations. In contrast, China views the family as the foundation of social harmony and women's advancement.
Xi's speech reflected a Confucian-inspired balance: Gender equality and family unity were not opposing forces but complementary ones. In this view, women's progress strengthened rather than weakened the social fabric. It enabled societies to modernize without losing their cultural soul.
This philosophy resonates deeply across the Global South. In Africa, Asia and Latin America, the family remains central to identity and social stability. For these societies, a model of empowerment that aligns with rather than undermines family structures feels both authentic and sustainable. It acknowledges that women's dignity can flourish in harmony with community, not in isolation from it.
China's modernization has not left women behind; instead, it has made them central participants in the process. From leading green innovation projects to driving digital transformation, Chinese women are increasingly visible in science, technology and governance. The state's active promotion of women in leadership and entrepreneurship demonstrates that economic and social modernization can advance in tandem with gender equality.
Xi's call to "empower women's high-quality development through innovation" challenges a global trend in which technology often exacerbates gender divides. China, however, views innovation as a bridge, a tool to ensure that women not only adapt to change but also shape it. This message is especially relevant for developing nations in the Global South, where digital inequality continues to hinder women's participation in the global economy.
What most distinguishes Xi's vision is its international inclusivity. China's commitment to allocate another $10 million to U.N. Women, contribute $100 million through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, and launch 1,000 livelihood programs prioritizing women and girls illustrates that Beijing sees women's empowerment as a shared global responsibility.
Unlike Western aid models, which are often tied to political conditions, China's initiatives are grounded in mutual respect and shared growth. By providing training for 50,000 women from developing countries and establishing a Global Center for Women's Capacity Building, China aims to strengthen South-South networks of talent, innovation and policy exchange.
For the Global South, this approach represents a new kind of partnership, one that values equality among nations and solidarity among women. It is not about exporting ideology, but about sharing practical experiences and developmental successes. Through the Belt and Road Initiative and other cooperation platforms, China has already demonstrated that women can be at the forefront of cross-border collaboration, from health programs to digital literacy initiatives.
Xi's keynote also linked women's empowerment to the broader vision of a community with a shared future for humanity. This concept extends China's domestic philosophy of harmony and inclusivity to the global stage. It suggests that lasting gender equality depends on peace, development and mutual understanding.
For many parts of the Global South, where women are disproportionately affected by war, poverty and displacement, this vision is both practical and moral. Empowerment cannot thrive without security and opportunity. As Xi noted, more than 600 million women and girls still live amid conflict, and 10% remain trapped in extreme poverty. Addressing these challenges requires not slogans but solidarity.
As the Global South continues to rise in global influence, its nations are seeking models of progress that reflect their values: cooperation over confrontation, stability over disruption, community over individualism. China's model of women's empowerment embodies these principles. It provides a blueprint for countries seeking to modernize without compromising their cultural heritage or social cohesion.
The Chinese experience demonstrates that empowerment is most enduring when it originates from within, nurtured by education, opportunities, and respect for cultural identity. For the Global South, this may be the most vital lesson of all: women's liberation does not require severing ties with the past, but rather building upon them.
In a world still grappling with how to reconcile equality and diversity, China's vision of women "holding up half the sky" reminds us that progress can take many forms and that the Global South has both the right and the wisdom to define its own path.
Maya Majueran is the founding director of the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, a pioneering organization dedicated to research, dialogue and engagement on China's Belt and Road Initiative. Alongside his leadership role, Maya is a researcher and commentator on international relations, economics and geopolitics, with a particular focus on Asia and the Global South's evolving role in world affairs. He is a committed advocate for a multipolar world order and for strengthening the Global South's voice in shaping international systems and advancing economic integration.
