Overview of the Recent Dialogue Event

Recently, Fenghuang County in Hunan Province hosted the main events for the Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation: 2025 HER Power, HER Stories Dialogue. These discussions focused on harnessing technological advancements to foster gender equality and empower women in rural areas.

Theme and Objectives

The central theme of this year’s dialogue was “Technological Progress Bringing New Opportunities for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.” Organizers examined the impact of digital transformation and technological innovations on women’s economic independence, reduction of labor burdens, and enhanced decision-making power within families and communities.

Significance of the Event

This year’s event holds particular significance as it aligns with multiple anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark agenda advocating for women’s empowerment.

Co-hosting Organizations

The event was co-hosted by a coalition of both Chinese and international organizations, including:

• The China Internet Information Center
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Representation in China
• The International Fund for Agricultural Development, China Office
• The World Food Program, China Office
• The Center for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization, UN ESCAP
• The United Nations Development Program in China
• The People’s Government of Fenghuang County

Support also came from the Ant Foundation and the China Foundation for Rural Development.

Participation and Impact

Approximately 100 participants, including rural women, scholars, government officials, representatives from NGOs and businesses, and members of the media, gathered both in person and online. This diverse participation underscores the collaborative effort to empower women through technology.

In a pre-recorded message, Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, noted, “When we invest in women’s access to science and technology in rural communities, the benefits ripple across entire societies.” He highlighted China’s e-commerce villages and women-led agritech cooperatives as models for others to emulate.