American Chamber of Commerce in China International Womens Day Event

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening,

It is my utmost pleasure to speak to you today ahead of International Women’s Day, a day when we come together to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women to our world and focus on the vital role women play in shaping tomorrow's innovations.

Women have long been the backbone of change and progress across the spectrum of human endeavours. Throughout history, they’ve been the carriers of tradition and the pioneers of reform. In the context of innovation—be it technological, social, or economic—women have been at the forefront, driving us towards a better future.

“Women Hold Up Half The Sky”, is a proclamation made by Mao Zedong, mainly to prove that women are a resource that ought to be deployed outside of the homes into the professional fields. It is a powerful statement that affirms that women can do just as much as men can. 

Generations of Chinese women and men have grown up with these ideas of gender balance, which has contributed to China’s strong female workforce - 64% of women in China work compared with 54% of women in the UK and US. In fact, China’s meteoric rise from a mere US$180 per capita GDP in 1979 to around US$12,500 today would not have been possible without women being active partners in the labour force. 

It is the success stories of women in China specializing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and defying gender norms and stereotypes that should be heralded to inspire and empower others to follow.  

For example, Tu Youyou was China’s first Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine in 2015, with her discovery of a malaria therapy, whilst Hu Qiheng was a leader in promoting Internet access in China, being inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame in 2013 as a global connector. 

In the private sector, there are stellar mentors and role models such as Zhou Qunfei, who rose from a migrant worker to one of the world’s most successful self-made women. As the CEO of Lens Technology, she built an empire manufacturing glass for tech giants such as Tesla, Apple and Samsung.

It’s clear that China is doing something right when it comes to gender equality and creating an even playing field for women in the workforce. Something that the developing world must emulate. 

These stories serve as a timely reminder of the importance and value of this year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Invest in women: accelerate progress”.

Today, we see women leading major tech companies and startups around the world, shaping the industries of AI, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Their perspectives bring forth groundbreaking innovations that benefit everyone, ensuring that technology evolves in ways that are inclusive and reflective of our diverse society.

In the realm of social innovation, women are transforming their communities through entrepreneurial ventures, often uplifting the societies they belong to. They are at the helm of social enterprises, leveraging their unique insights to create solutions that tackle inequality, education, and health challenges, thereby influencing systemic change from the ground up.

Economically, women are redefining markets and consumer patterns. Female entrepreneurs are fueling economic growth and creating new jobs while addressing vital issues through their work. They understand that with innovation comes responsibility—their approaches to business often include sustainable practices that promise a healthier planet for future generations.

Ladies and gentlemen, the clear message of today is this: when women innovate, they do so with an inclusive vision. They bring essential skills and perspectives that are fundamental to addressing the multidimensional challenges we face in the contemporary world.

However, we must acknowledge that for every success story, countless others will never be told as women continue to face barriers that prevent them from fully participating in the innovation landscape. It is incumbent upon us all to dismantle these barriers, to implement policies that encourage women's leadership, and to create environments where their talents and ideas can flow freely.

Many of these issues are systemic, with the lack of women’s representation in decision-making bodies.

This is also a concern in areas such as artificial intelligence, where the lack of participation from women threatens to perpetuate biases and inequalities within the algorithms that will shape our future.

There is also an alarming lack of financing to support women’s empowerment, with an estimated US$360 billion annual deficit in global spending on gender equality measures. 

These attitudes are shortsighted, as realizing women’s rights is not only our moral imperative, but also the wise economic and social investment. 

Closing gender employment gaps, including in STEM fields, is estimated to potentially boost GDP per capita by 20 per cent across all regions.

In the face of global challenges such as climate change, we simply cannot afford to leave half of the world's potential behind when it comes to the solutions we need in areas such as clean energy to keep our planet habitable for future generations.

Investing in women's education—and particularly in STEM fields—is therefore critical. Equally important is supporting women entrepreneurs to access funding and mentorship opportunities. By enabling women to tap into their potential, we are not just empowering individuals, we are catalysing progress for everyone.

At the end of the day, this is what feminism is all about: equality.

For this International Women's Day, let us commit to a future where innovation is synonymous with equality. A future where our daughters can look forward to the same opportunities for discovery and creation as our sons. A future where the insights and capabilities of women are no longer seen as supplementary but as a fundamental driver of the world's innovation engine.

Ladies and gentlemen, the time for action is now. Let us join forces to support women’s innovation, to celebrate their achievements, and to amplify their voices. 

Thank you for being here today to celebrate the incredible achievements of women and for committing to a more inclusive and innovative tomorrow.

I wish everyone a happy International Women’s Day this Friday!