Lord Davidson presents the Award to Madam Hu Pinghua.

On September 13, 2018, Madam Hu Pinghua, wife of Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming to the UK, was presented the “Women’s Icebreakers” Award by the UK 48 Group Club for her outstanding contribution to the friendship and women’s exchanges in particular between China and the UK. About 200 people were present, including Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Stephen Perry, Chairman of the 48 Group Club, Lucia Hunt, wife of the Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Davidson of Glen Clova, former Advocate General for Scotland, the Rt. Hon. Lord McNally, former Minister of State for Justice and Lady McNally, Kate White, FCO Asia Pacific Director, Geng Jinhai, Acting Chairman of China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK), and guests from Chinese and British government, parliament, and industrial, commercial, cultural, educational and media sectors.

Madam Hu Pinghua speaks at the awarding ceremony

Madam Hu Pinghua delivered a speech at the awarding ceremony, saying that it is a great honour for her to become one of the “Women’s Icebreakers”. She believes that the award is not only her personal honour, but also the recognition of the progress of the cause of women in China, which has been closely linked with the progress of New China since its founding.

First, Chinese women enjoy higher social status. Chinese women account for one fifth of the world’s total. In feudal China, women were seen as dependents of men and had no place in society. After the founding of New China, women were given freedom and a new life. The cause of women has since started a new chapter. In 1954, “gender equality” was written into China’s Constitution for the first time. In 1995, during the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, “gender equality” was announced as a basic national policy of China. In 2005, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests (2005 Amendment) was adopted in which “gender equality” as a basic national policy became law. In 2012, at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, “gender equality” was for the first time written into the report of the Party Congress. From government pledges to legislation and then to the report of the governing Party, the all-round recognition of “gender equality” has given a huge boost to the cause of women in China.

Second, Chinese women enjoy better protection. With the enactment of laws on anti-domestic violence, labour contract and education of girls, China has established legal and more systemic safeguards for the rights and interests of women and gender equality and made remarkable achievements. In the political arena, women accounted for 6.6% of all members at the 1949 Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the first of its kind in Chinese history. In 2018, women accounted for a record 20.39% at the CPPCC and an equally record-breaking 24.9% at the National People’s Congress, which is China’s top legislature. In the economic sector, according to Hurun 2018 Global Self-Made Women Billionaires List, over 60% of the world’s 100 most successful women entrepreneurs come from China. Women’s employment rate in China stands at 73%, higher than that in many developed countries. In the sports sector, women athletes with their remarkable performance are always the pride of the nation. There are many outstanding representatives of Chinese women in other areas. Tu Youyou, a female scientist, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015, and Liu Yang became China’s first female astronaut. These shining examples of Chinese women are as brilliant as their male peers in all sectors. The Chinese women are definitely “holding up half of the sky”.

Third, there are more female Chinese diplomats than ever before. Madam Hu said, “More and more confident, enterprising and courageous Chinese women are playing an active role on the international stage. Take for example the diplomatic service, which I know well. At the time of the founding of New China, there were few female Chinese diplomats. Over the past 69 years since then, the number of female Chinese diplomats has kept increasing. In 2018, 32.7% of China’s diplomats are women, including 14 female Ambassadors, 20 female Consuls General and 145 female counsellors, accounting for 8.5%, 23.5% and 28.9% of the total respectively.”

Madam Hu noted that, over the past eight years since the 48 Group Club was founded, China-UK relationship has been upgraded from comprehensive strategic partnership to global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century, and to a China-UK “Golden Era”. Against this background, the conferment of the Award by the 48 Group Club represents the recognition of the exchanges and cooperation between the women of the two countries. Last December, at the fifth meeting of the China-UK High-Level People to People Exchange Mechanism, the topic of women was included in the agenda of this annual mechanism for the first time. Last June, the China Women’s Development Foundation and Cambridge Judge Business School co-hosted the International Forum on Women’s Sustainable Development, providing an important platform for exchanges and mutual learning between the women of the two countries in areas such as internet-based public welfare.

The Chinese Embassy Women’s Group which is composed of female diplomats and wives of diplomats has established a sound cooperative relationship with the Women’s Icebreakers of the 48 Group Club. They have co-hosted colourful events to brief the British friends on the achievements of the Chinese women and engaged in extensive discussions on women’s status and the protection of women’s rights in both countries. They have also invited their British friends to the Embassy and the Ambassador’s residence to watch a play commemorating the victory of the anti-fascist war and to appreciate China’s silk, costume and traditional crafts. Through these exchanges, they have enhanced understanding, built consensus and deepened friendship. The Group has also taken part in the charity fairs organized by the Children and Families Across Borders, donated auction items to Britain’s women institutions working on employment training of women in poor countries, and sponsored charity fairs of local schools.

Madam Hu expressed her heartfelt thanks to her husband Ambassador Liu Xiaoming for his continued and firm support and invaluable suggestions. She also thanked her female colleagues at the Chinese Embassy for their efforts, saying that the award is a citation for all the female diplomats in the Embassy in the UK. She and the Chinese Embassy Women’s Group would like to continue working with the 48 Group Club Women’s Icebreakers to enhance China-UK women exchanges and cooperation, and make more contribution to the China-UK “Golden Era”.

Chairman Stephen Perry addresses the awarding ceremony.

Stephen Perry, Chairman of the 48 Group Club, delivered a warm speech at the awarding ceremony, speaking highly of Madam Hu’s outstanding contribution to promoting UK-China relations and the exchanges and cooperation between the women of the two countries in particular. He said that Madam Hu Pinghua, the first Women’s Icebreakers Award winner, is well worth the title. Looking ahead, he hoped that the UK and China should carry forward the “spirit of icebreakers”, give full play to their respective strengths in economy, trade and culture, and work together to take UK-China relationship to a new level.

Acting Chairman Geng Jinhai of CCCUK said in his speech that Madam Hu Pinghua, having done a great deal in promoting China-UK cooperation in the fields such as women’s affairs, culture, public welfare and education, is a fine example of the Women’s Icebreakers. China and the UK need many more excellent women to work for the friendship between the two countries and to contribute to China-UK Golden Era.

The guests extended their warm congratulations to Madam Hu on her Award, expressing their readiness to uphold the “spirit of icebreakers”, follow the example of Madam Hu and make their contribution to China-UK friendship and women’s exchanges between the two countries.

From left to right, Acting Chairman Geng Jinhai, Madam Lise Bertlesen, Founder of Women’s Icebreakers, Lord Davidson, Madam Hu Pinghua, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming and Chairman Stephen Perry