Peng Liyuan calls for advancing equitable, inclusive education for girls, women

China

Peng Liyuan calls for advancing equitable, inclusive education for girls, women

2024-09-06 10:13 Last Updated At：16:17

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Thursday called for continued China-Africa collaboration to advance global girls' and women's education towards greater fairness, inclusiveness, and to work together to build a better world.

Peng, also the special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the advancement of girls' and women's education, made the appeal while addressing a thematic meeting on women's education of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing.

The spouses and representatives of African leaders attending the ongoing FOCAC summit participated in the event.

In her speech, Peng highlighted the shared destiny of China and Africa, and praised the contributions of women to fostering unity and cooperation in both regions.

While emphasizing the fruitful results of China's Spring Bud Project, which has empowered women through education for over 30 years, Peng spoke highly of many African women who have realized the values of their life in recent years through education.

Peng said that China and Africa share the same interests in promoting the development of women's education, calling for the two sides to carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation and build a better world with shared benefits.

African first ladies thanked Peng for her efforts in advancing African girls' and women's education, and expressed a commitment to strengthening cooperation with China to improve women's lives.

Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping also spoke at the meeting as an outstanding representative of Chinese women. Peng, together with African dignitaries, enjoyed a children's choir and Peking opera performance, and toured an exhibition showcasing Chinese traditional culture and achievements in women's education.

The guests praised the children's outstanding performances and China's rich cultural heritage, and highly commended China's remarkable progress in promoting women's development.

Public activities suspended in Shanghai, Jiangsu amid Typhoon Bebinca

2024-09-16 13:15 Last Updated At：13:37

Authorities in Shanghai and neighboring eastern provinces have taken tight measures to suspend public activities as Typhoon Bebinca, the 13th this year, landed in the coastal regions on Monday morning.

The most powerful typhoon hitting Shanghai since 1949, Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai at around 07:30 on Monday, bringing about 50 millimeters of rainfall by 08:00.

On Monday morning, a hydrological station near the Huangpu River reported that the water level had risen to 4.5 meters, nearing the height of the dyke.

The usually bustling riverbank now stands empty, with only one police vehicle on standby to monitor water levels and address emergencies.

In response to the severe weather, the city's two airports, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport, have canceled all flights from 20:00 on Sunday until 14:00 on Monday, with over 900 flights called off and the flight resumption remaining pending.

Additionally, all ferry services, highways and parks have been closed for safety concerns.

Coinciding with the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival starting from Sunday, the Shanghai municipal government has ordered the cancellation of all outdoor festive activities and the shutdown of illuminated attractions.

Uprooted trees are seen along roadsides, and municipal workers have been busy with clearing operations since early Monday morning.

According to the municipal meteorological observatory, the typhoon is estimated to last for 12 hours, with its impact on the metropolis likely to diminish on Tuesday.

In Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, the municipal government elevated the emergency response to Level-1 on Sunday night, marking a rare occurrence for the city.

The city has mobilized a total of 30,000 municipal workers, including electricians and police officers, to be on call in case of any emergency.

Plus, all public bus and food delivery services have been ordered to halt operations. Similarly, construction work citywide have been asked to suspend, with workers evacuated to local gyms for shelter.