China, UN to co-host global women summit in Sept.

China and the United Nations (UN) Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) will co-host a global women summit in September at the UN headquarter in New York, officials from China and UN Women said Monday.

Song Xiuyan, Vice Chairperson of China's State Council Working Committee on Women and Children, Vice President and First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation, made the announcement at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Among a series of summits at the UN headquarters in September, China and UN Women will co-host a global women summit, said Song.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping and the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will jointly sign the invitations of the summit to leaders of all UN member states," she added.

The summit is aimed to enhance the implementation of and Platform for Action, promote new political commitments in achieving post-2015 agenda in women development and find new financial support, said Song, adding that President Xi will attend and address the summit.

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of the the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Nations around the world have made positive progress in promoting gender equality, empowerment and development of women though they also face challenges. The international community needs to make new starts and commit new actions," said Song.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, also announced the news during her speech at the same meeting. Endi