Members of the Security Council must come together and take concrete actions to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to safeguard the rights and interests of women impacted by the relentless war in the strip, a Chinese envoy to the UN said on Tuesday.
At a Security Council meeting on "Women, Peace, and Security", China's Permanent Representative to the UN Fu Cong pointed out that, currently, over 600 million women and girls in the world are suffering from wars and conflicts, especially in Gaza. The ongoing war there has resulted in over 44,000 Palestinian deaths, 70 percent of whom are women and children.
Fu urged the Security Council to move beyond empty political slogans and take concrete and meaningful actions to address the situation, calling for a ceasefire as the immediate priority to protect women's rights and interests in Gaza.
"If the Security Council fails to take action to ensure women's safety, its discussions will be seen as nothing more than empty rhetoric for women suffering in war zones. We once again urge all Security Council members to unite, uphold the authority of the Council's mechanisms and resolutions, and support the Council in taking strong action to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and restore peace," said Fu.
Fu also emphasized China's commitment to fostering a peaceful environment for women's development and its active support for women's causes globally. He noted that all countries share responsibility in promoting the "Women, Peace, and Security" agenda and safeguarding women's rights.
China urges Security Council to act for Gaza ceasefire to protect affected women's rights
China urges Security Council to act for Gaza ceasefire to protect affected women's rights
Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday highlighted the importance of stronger business ties with China at the Nepal-China Business Forum in Beijing, calling for joint efforts of the business community from both sides to achieve mutual benefit.
Oli is in China for a four-day official visit, during which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday.
On Wednesday afternoon, he delivered a keynote speech at the forum, in which he spoke highly of the close relationship between the two nations.
"We are not only linked by mountains and rivers, but we are also connected by culture and situation on economic relations, respect for sovereign equality, territory integrity, political independence as well as mutual trust," said the prime minister.
Oli also encouraged businesses from both countries to deepen cooperation.
"I encourage the business community from both countries to work together for mutual benefit. Your increased collaboration and partnership will contribute to further enhancing our economic cooperation. I believe the private sector is the real engine of economic growth and prosperity," he said.
India, as Nepal's largest trading partner, accounts for two-thirds of Nepal's international trade, whereas China, as the second largest, now accounts for about 14 percent. Nine agreements have been signed between China and Nepal, with some of them focusing on enhancing business ties.
According to some participants in the forum, there is still much room for the two countries to expand cooperation in trade and investment.
"Our export is very much low, if we compare with the lot of import from China. So we need to export more items to China. Border connectivity also needs to be improved [more] than what we already have," said Chandra Prasad Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
"From January to September this year, the trade volume between China and Nepal reached 1.58 billion U.S. dollars, marking an 8.7-percent year-on-year increase, showcasing the great potential of bilateral economic and trade cooperation," said Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Nepali prime minister stresses importance of stronger business ties with China
