{"id":350191,"date":"2025-10-11T12:51:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T16:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=350191"},"modified":"2025-10-11T12:51:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T16:51:41","slug":"president-burton-in-beijing-for-womens-meeting-china-can-show-us-how-we-can-empower-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/homepage-carousel\/president-burton-in-beijing-for-womens-meeting-china-can-show-us-how-we-can-empower-women\/","title":{"rendered":"President Burton in Beijing for women’s meeting: ‘China can show us…how we can empower women’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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President of Dominica, H. E Sylvanie Burton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sylvanie Burton, President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, recently expressed her gratitude to President Xi Jinping for his advocacy on behalf of women’s rights.<\/p>\n

Correspondence from the Chinese Embassy in Dominica placed Burton in Beijing on Saturday to attend the upcoming Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women. The meeting, co-hosted by China and UN Women, will be held in the city from October 13 to 14.<\/p>\n

A Xinhua News Agency article said that Burton highlighted the occasion, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as offering a valuable occasion to assess the strides made in advancing women’s development worldwide.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Xinhua, the president conveyed her anticipation for the event in China, emphasizing her eagerness to explore ways to further promote women’s causes globally. She also expressed interest in understanding China’s efforts to improve living standards for women and their families.<\/p>\n

Burton reportedly underscored the profound impact of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was adopted during the 1995 UN Fourth World Conference on Women, noting that this landmark document has significantly influenced international perspectives, fostering a more positive outlook on women\u2019s empowerment and equality.<\/p>\n

“For us here in Dominica,” she stated, “after the Beijing Declaration and the Platform of Action, we saw that the government of Dominica ensured that in every budgetary allocation we had to show that we would be empowering women or would be creating some avenues for gender equality.”<\/p>\n

In the article, she added that countries can evaluate their progress, identify areas needing improvement, and determine future steps. Burton stressed that empowering women extends beyond individual benefits\u2014it uplifts families, children, and youth, making ongoing efforts in this realm vital.<\/p>\n

Xinhua reports that Burton praised China for its tangible initiatives aimed at fostering women’s development. She noted that China allocates targeted funding to support grassroots and vulnerable women, helping them improve their living conditions through better housing and education. Highlighting China’s leadership as an example, she told reporters that the country demonstrates how women can be empowered both at community and international levels\u2014through employment, representation, negotiation, and advocacy on behalf of their nations, communities, and families.<\/p>\n

Burton reportedly observed that since establishing diplomatic ties in 2004, Chinese-supported projects have notably enhanced the quality of life for women in Dominica. She cited the first-ever cardiology surgery in the country, made possible through a Chinese-assisted cardiology unit, which benefited a woman.<\/p>\n

“The Dominica-China Friendship Hospital allows women to give birth safely there instead of in remote districts, where a lack of facilities once led to tragic deaths,” wrote Xinhua.<\/p>\n

It is reported that Burton also pointed to other collaborative efforts, such as the construction of the Dominica-China Friendship Bridge, new housing for indigenous women-led households, and improved roads connecting Roseau and Portsmouth. These projects have facilitated safer and easier travel, enabling women to access education and support their families more effectively.<\/p>\n

She expressed admiration for China’s vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and recognized the Global Governance Initiative as instrumental in advancing women’s progress.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, said the write-up, Burton hopes to learn from China’s advanced experiences during the upcoming meeting and to bring back practical strategies to further empower women and promote gender equality in Dominica.<\/p>\n

She concluded with optimism, saying, “We hope that we will have a successful meeting.”<\/p>\n

President Burton arriving in Beijing on Saturday morning:<\/p>\n