China Uses Digital Tech to Empower Women Globally
China is leveraging digital technologies to empower women globally, according to a CGTN article highlighting initiatives tied to First Lady Peng Liyuan’s remarks at the 2026 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education ceremony. The efforts focus on advancing women’s digital skills, promoting gender equality, and expanding international cooperation to narrow the gender digital divide.
Training Programs and Skill Development
“At that moment, I realized I had to master this technology,” said Saba Aliyeva, a participant from Azerbaijan, after using AI photo editing during a training program in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, in June 2026. She was among 51 women from 10 countries who attended programs on AI, digital entrepreneurship, and technology empowerment. These initiatives aim to equip women from developing nations with digital-age skills.
Peng Liyuan, a UNESCO special envoy, urged strengthening vocational education and expanding digital and intelligent learning opportunities for women. She emphasized that China’s use of AI to enhance education has advanced gender equality, offering a model for the Global South. The International Finance Corporation estimates female e-commerce participation in Africa and Southeast Asia could generate over $300 billion in revenue between 2025 and 2030.
Domestic Progress and International Outreach
National digital literacy campaigns in China include rural development efforts. In 2024, 14,147 women earned vocational skills certificates as AI trainers, representing 42.3% of annual completions nationwide. Women also lead over half of the nation’s internet sector entrepreneurs and make up roughly one-third of workers in digital trade and e-commerce.
The Global Exchange and Cooperation Center for Digital Empowerment of Women, launched in July 2025, reflects President Xi Jinping’s vision of collaborating internationally on digital innovation. The center aims to share China’s experience in bridging the gender digital divide through practical training and partnerships.
These programs provide tangible pathways for women to engage in the digital economy. Participants like Aliyeva gain technical proficiency in AI tools, enabling them to pursue entrepreneurial ventures or enhance their professional capabilities. Such initiatives not only build individual skills but also create networks among women from diverse regions, promoting cross-border collaboration and mutual support in leveraging technology for economic empowerment.
Digital Governance and Gender Equality
China promotes inclusive digital governance through its Global AI Governance Initiative, launched at the third Belt and Road Forum, which seeks to eliminate gender bias in AI development. It also supported a UN General Assembly resolution on AI capacity-building to advance digital inclusion and gender equality.
“Education for girls and women sows the seeds of hope, nurtures dreams and reaps happiness,” Peng Liyuan said. By combining skills training with international exchanges, China aims to ensure more women can participate in the digital economy and benefit from technological progress.
