China uses digital technology to empower women globally

China is utilizing digital technologies to promote gender equality and bridge the global gender digital divide. This initiative was highlighted by Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping and a UNESCO special envoy, during the 2026 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education ceremony.

Recent training programs in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, provided 51 women from 10 different countries with skills in artificial intelligence, digital entrepreneurship, and technology empowerment. These programs aim to help women from developing nations navigate the digital age.

Peng Liyuan called on the international community to strengthen vocational training and expand intelligent education for women. The push for digital empowerment is supported by economic potential; research from the International Finance Corporation suggests that increased female participation in e-commerce in Africa and Southeast Asia could generate over $300 billion in revenue between 2025 and 2030.