The main Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation: 2025 HER Power, HER Stories Dialogue events have been held in Fenghuang county, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, Hunan province, recently.

Featuring the theme "Technological Progress Bringing New Opportunities for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment", ways that digital transformation and technological innovation can boost women's economic independence, reduce their labor burdens and elevate their decision-making power in their families and communities have been explored at the dialogue.

The fourth iteration of the annual Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation event series, this year's holds special significance – it coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women – the most important of the four conferences on women held between 1975 and 1995 – and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – a visionary agenda for the empowerment of women.

Co-hosted by a coalition of 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 Programe China Office, the Center for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Development Programe in China, and the People's Government of Fenghuang County, the event is also supported by the Ant Foundation and the China Foundation for Rural Development.

Around 100 participants – including rural women, scholars, government officials, representatives of international organizations, NGOs and businesses, and members of the media – are engaging either in person or online.

"When we invest in women's access to science and technology in rural communities, the benefits ripple across entire societies," stated Siddharth Chatterjee, UN resident coordinator in China, in a pre-recorded video message that was played during the event's opening ceremony. "China's rural e-commerce villages, women-led agritech cooperatives, and digital literacy campaigns offer models the world can follow".

Gao Anming, editor-in-chief of the China International Communications Group and director general of the CIIC, echoed the sentiment, remarking: "When digital technology meets women's creativity, it transcends geographical and gender boundaries. China's experiences in driving equity through innovation offer valuable lessons for the world".

"As a documenter and communicator of global development, the CICG tells the world how China is turning 'her power' into a core engine of rural vitalization through digital infrastructure, tech training, and policy innovation using over 30 languages and various AI technologies as part of its efforts to power international communications," he noted.

"We look forward to sharing ways the dividends of technology can assist with the overcoming of gender barriers and help transform rural women from 'subjects of development' into 'agents of development' with all nations," Gao added.

"Fenghuang places great importance on advancing women's development," stated Ou Wanhai, deputy head Fenghuang county, in his welcome speech. "As a county with a predominantly population of the Miao ethnic group, we have supported rural women in achieving entrepreneurship and employment in key sectors such as agriculture and cultural tourism through policy support, capacity building, and guidance pertaining to industry development.