Ruto said only 18 percent of children on the African continent have access to early childhood education, compared with the global average of 60 percent.

"We are particularly grateful to the Chinese government for its support," she said.

Isaura Nyusi, wife of Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, said that the Beijing Declaration — a global policy framework adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, which was held in Beijing in 1995 — has inspired African countries' efforts and policies in achieving equality between men and women.

"Africa and China are indeed side by side in promoting women's empowerment," she said, noting that the Chinese government has been instrumental in supporting African countries by building more schools and granting more scholarships.

"If you want to go faster, go alone; but if you want to go further, go accompanied, by walking side by side," she said. "With a more developed and modernized China, we have the large advantage of leapfrogging Africa's development."

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn