Beijing, September 19 – Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls’ and Women’s Education, underscored the vital role of education in empowering women during the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education ceremony, held in Beijing last Friday to mark the award’s 10th anniversary.
Peng, together with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, presented the awards to winning projects from Kenya and Lebanon.
In her address, Peng highlighted education as the primary driver of women’s empowerment, noting that it has enabled millions of girls and women worldwide to gain confidence and skills in pursuit of their dreams. She stressed that in today’s era of artificial intelligence, women’s access to science and technology education is more crucial than ever, helping them master new tools and boost innovation.
Peng reaffirmed China’s commitment to promoting women’s education, particularly in science, and expressed hope for stronger cooperation with UNESCO and other partners.
UNESCO Director-General Azoulay thanked China for its long-standing support and praised Peng’s contributions to advancing girls’ and women’s education globally.
Since its establishment in 2015 by China and UNESCO, the award has honored 20 projects across 19 countries, recognizing outstanding initiatives that have expanded educational opportunities for girls and women.
Source: Nahar–Shuvo, CCTV