Forum seeks to empower women, promote innovation

The 2025 BRICS Women's Leadership Forum convenes in Beijing, April 28, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]

The 2025 BRICS Women's Leadership Forum convened on Monday in Beijing, drawing over 300 participants from government, business, academia and international organizations. As the flagship event of the BRICS Women Business Alliance (WBA), this fourth edition focused on empowering women across BRICS countries while promoting innovation and business cooperation.

Co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the China Chamber of International Commerce, the forum spotlighted the growing role of women in global economic and social development.

Nie Wenhui, vice chairman of the CCPIT, highlighted the significance of the BRICS WBA. "Established in 2020, it is the only platform within multilateral mechanisms led by women business leaders, and a bright feature of the BRICS cooperation mechanism," he said. 

According to Nie, the alliance has hosted four women's innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, organized dozens of economic and trade forums, and facilitated business tours and exchange visits. These initiatives have resulted in a range of collaborative projects and the promotion of innovative practices, showcasing the ingenuity and strength of BRICS women.

Song Li, secretary of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation, emphasized China's commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs. "Through inclusive financial policies, 640 billion yuan in microloans has been issued, enabling 8.49 million women to realize their entrepreneurial dreams."

Song also highlighted China's international efforts to promote the empowerment of women, particularly in the Global South. "Under the Silk Road e-commerce cooperation framework, women in 33 partner countries have gained employment opportunities," she said.

Letícia Fraz?o Leme, minister-counsellor of the Brazilian Embassy in China, commended the WBA's effectiveness, noting, "The WBA has been an effective tool to enhance cooperation between women entrepreneurs and foster innovation and economic inclusivity.”

She also introduced two key projects of the alliance for 2025. The Cotton Project invites female designers from BRICS nations to co-create clothing collections using Brazilian cotton. Meanwhile, the BRICS Women Symphony Orchestra initiative aims to promote cultural exchange and support female musicians across member countries.

Zhao Haiying, chairperson of the BRICS WBA Chinese Chapter, acknowledged the historical and modern contributions of women in various sectors. "From China's traditional 'men farm, women weave' system to women's roles in the manufacturing era, women have always been vital economic contributors," she said. 

She further noted that women are now making significant strides in education, health care, technology and artificial intelligence, citing a case in the United Arab Emirates where women are using AI for early childhood eye screenings, revolutionizing health care services.

Marianne Ghali, chairperson of the BRICS WBA Egyptian Chapter, highlighted the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative in encouraging women's participation in economic activities, saying that it has encouraged greater female involvement, improved education levels, and enhanced protection of women's rights and interests.

The event also featured three panel discussions on resilient leadership, pioneering innovation and inclusive soft power, aiming to harness the insights and experiences of women to foster a more inclusive global economy and cultural landscape.

Forum participants take part in the business matchmaking session, Beijing, April 28, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the China Chamber of International Commerce]

The forum concluded with a business matchmaking session, providing a platform for participants to explore potential partnerships and strengthen international cooperation.